628 REPORT — 1894. 



It also accounts for cases of isomerism, such as the two euccinamides, -which 



will probably have the configurations 



OH H OH 



I I I 



CHj— C = N CHj— U = N 



CHj— C = N and 



I 

 H 



OHH CH,— C = N 



I I 

 OH H 



Formation of the Sodmm Compounds. — In the course of numerous attempts to 

 prepare pure Na acetanilide, one experiment gave an unexpected result, and it 

 appears to me not only to bear out the above view of the constitution of these 

 bodies, but to throw some light on the formation of the sodium compounds. 



If acetanilide is dissolved in dry ether, and one molecule of solid sodium 

 iiiethylate is added, the liquid hecomes turbid, and a compound of the formula 

 C,iIjN.C(OH)CH3.CH30Na separates out in needles. The two molecules are 

 very loosely attached, and the acetanilide may be easily dissolved out from the 

 other substance. The formation of this compound points to the following : 



1. Acetanilide is an unsaturated compound. 



2. The formation of the sodium compounds in the case of anti compounds is 

 preceded by the formation of addition compounds, with subsequent loss of one 

 ^uolecule of water, thus: 



C^HjN + NaOH = C^HsN . Na = C^HsN . Na + H^O 



II I /OH I 



H . C . OH "— C\OH H . C : O 



The experimental part of the work has been carried out in conjunction with 

 Mr. Archdeacon, and will shortly be communicated to the Chemical Society. 



7. Report of the Committee on the Bibliography of Spectroscopy. 



See Reports, p. 161. 



WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15. 



The following Reports and Papers were read: — 



1. Report of the Committee on the Action of Light on Dyed Colours. 



See Reports, p. 238. 



2. Report of the Committee on Isomeric Naphthalene Derivatives, 



See Reports, p. 268. 



3. A Discussion took place on Dr. J. B. Cohen's Paper on the Constitution, 

 of Acid Amides. — See p. 625. 



i. On Certain Phenomena occvrring during the Evaporation of Salt 

 Solutions. By Dr. W. Meyerhoffer, Vienna. 



AVlien a solution is partially evaporated it is not necessarily the case that the 

 *olid dissolved suits uie also precipitated, h'rom the closer examination of what 



