158 DR. LOWIG ON THE ESSENTIAL OIL 
of potash or soda be poured over this salt, the ammoniacal odour is not 
immediately developed, but. becomes so after continued contact or the 
application of heat. This circumstance might lead to the supposition, 
that in this compound there is a similar relation between the acid and 
the alkali as in the cyanate of ammonia. 
At the same time it must be observed, that acids immediately decom- 
pose this compound, the oil being deposited, undecomposed, and a cor- 
responding salt of ammonia formed. 0°213grm. of hydrospiroilate_of 
ammonia obtained in crystals by evaporating the alcoholic solution 
was decomposed by dilute muriatic acid; the solution thus obtained was 
evaporated to dryness in a water-bath, and the remaining neutral sa- 
line mass again dissolved in water. By precipitation with nitrate of sil- 
ver, 0°239¢grm. of chloride of silver were obtained; as these correspond 
to 0:0288 of ammonia, the above 0°213grm. consist of 
Ammonia ......... 0:0288, or in 100 parts 13°52 
Hydrospiroilic acid 0°1850 86°48 
0°2138 100-00 
1 equivalent ammonia = 1718 or 1338 
1 hydrospiroilic acid = 11156 — 8662 
1 eq. hydrospiroilate of ammonia 128°74 100°00 
Spiroilide of Potassium. 
The spiroilide of potassium may be obtained either by gently heat- 
ing together potassium and hydrospiroilic acid, hydrogen being evolved, 
or by bringing together either the pure or the watery hydrospiroilic acid 
and solution of potash. Spiroilide of potassium is difficulty soluble in 
water. 
If the aqueous solution be slowly evaporated, small prismatic straw- 
coloured crystals are obtained. Left in contact with the air it soon 
decomposes, absorbing moisture and carbonic acid, like the hydro- 
spiroilate of ammonia. It may nevertheless be kept unaltered for a long 
time in close vessels. The smell resembling that of roses is likewise 
perceptible during the decomposition of this substance; at the end, 
carbonate of potash remains. 
1 eq. potassium 39°20 26°87 24°93 
L eq. spiroil 110°56 73°13 75°07 
_ leq. spiroilide potassium 149°76 100-00 100:00 
Spiroilides of Sodium, Calcium and Barium. These possess similar 
properties to the spiroilide of potassium, but the two latter compounds 
are still less soluble in water. 
Spiroilide of Magnesium may be obtained by agitating together the 
