112 DIVEES AND IIAGA ON NITIUTES. 



nitroetliane, at 140°, and in presence of water and hydrochloric acid, 

 yields hydroxyamine, passing probably through the following change: — 



in which acet-hydroxamic acid results from the interaction of two 

 molecules of the nitroethane, and then, as usual under such circum- 

 stances, sutlers hydrolysis into hydroxyamine and acetic acid. Again, 

 by the interaction of sodium-nitroethane and benzoic or acetic chloride, 

 diacet-hydroxamic acid is actually secured as the end-product : — 



2 Me CNa HNO,, + 2BzCl = {Me CO).^ NOH + Bz., NOH + 2Na CI. 

 In this case, each oximido-radical finds ready for it two univalent 

 radicals, in place of the one united to the nitroxy], in consequence of 

 the separation of the sodium and chlorine as salt. 



It is thus evident, that, under suitable conditions, both metal 

 nitrites (or nitrous acid itself) and organic nitrites (nitronites) reduce 

 to hydroxyamines. It is, further, seen that the conversion of in- 

 organic nitrites to hydroxyamine lends no support to the view that 

 they have an oxtjUc constitution ; because organic nitrites, beyond 

 doubt non-oxylic, also reduce to oximido-compounds. 



