360 CHEMISTRY. 



compounds have as yet been examined. They may be obtained in the same way 

 as the platinum salts, viz. by digesting the palladio-bichloride of potassium with 

 a solution of the sulphocyanide of potassium. The potassium salt crystallizes in 

 ruby red prisms which can be obtained of considerable size, easily soluble in 

 water and alcohol. By this latter solvent the salt may be freed from the alkalic 

 chloride with which it is apt to crystallize, and from which it is difficult to sepa- 

 rate it without loss. The mixed salts are stirred up with alcohol, and the solu- 

 tion rapidly decanted. The salt is anhydrous, melts at a high temperature, and 

 gives off sulphur, bisulphide of carbon, &c. Very slowly oxidized by nitric acid, 

 after long boiling a white substance is produced, free from sulphur, and corres- 

 ponding apparently to the platinum compound partly examined by Claus. 

 The deep red solution of the potassium salt gives with 



Solution of sub-oxide of mercury A black precipitate. 



do ' chloride of mercury ITo do 



do acetate of lead Orange yellow do 



do nitrate of bismuth Dirty orange do 



do sulphate of copper .Thrown do 



ido Chloride of cadmium Orange do 



do do zinc do do 



do sulphate of nichel Reddish bi'own do 



do do manganese Yellowish brown do 



do do iron(FeO) Reddish brown do 



The ammonium salt could not be obtained by the action of sulphocyanide of 

 ammonium on the palladio-bichloride of ammonium. It and the sodium salt were 

 obtained from their respective sulphates and the potassium compound. 



Similar compounds were obtained by using the palladio-protochloride. The 

 potassium compound crystalizes in dark red needles. The composition of these 

 various salts has not yet been determined, owing to the small quantity of palla- 

 dium in mv possession, but there can be little doubt that they correspond exactly 

 to the platinum salts. The formulae would then be Pd. Rh.^ + M.Rh. and Pd, Rh. 

 + M. Rh. 



The potassium salts are converted by ammonia into a salt ciystallizing in fine 

 reddish brown needles, soluble in water and alcohol; the same compound can be 

 prepared by acting on the chloride of palladammonium with sulphocyanide of 

 potassium, in the same way as recommended by Buckton for the platinum salt. 

 The compound is the sulphocyanide of palladammonium. 



= 1 



"g Rh. 

 PdJ 



The sulphur is oxidized with very great difficulty, even by hydrochloric acid 

 and chlorate of potassa. 



Double Sails of Bismuth. — Jacquelain long since desci'ibed the bismuths, 

 chloride of potassium, 2 K CI + Bi 01 ^ + 5 H 0. Arppe states that by dissolv- 

 ing 1 equivalent of hydrated oxide of bismuth and 2 equivalents of chloride of 

 potassium, in hydrochloric acid, a salt could be obtained of the formula 3 KCl + 

 Bi Cl^ and by using the proportions 2 KCl & 3 Bi'O* H 0, another having the 

 same form but consisting of 2 KCl + Bi Cl^ 



