92 



HYDROCYAXIC-ACID GAS FUMIGATION IX CALIFORNIA. 



of commercial acid forwarded by Mr. TVoglum had the following 

 composition : 



Xo. 6530: Specific gravity. 1.827 (65.4° Baume), 91.21 per cent 



H 2 SO, 



It contained merely a trace of ferrous sulphate, and no chlorids 

 or nitrates were present. This is a fairly representative sample of 

 commercial acid. A trace of nitric acid is sometimes present in 

 commercial sulphuric, but the amount would probably never be 

 large enough to be of any consequence when used for fumigation 

 purposes. 



CYANID SAMPLES. 



Certain cyanid samples received from Mr. TVoglum have been 

 analyzed for cyanogen and chlorin. Practically all commercial 

 cyanids contain small amounts of cyanates, carbonates, and traces 

 of other compounds, but none of them has been determined quan- 

 titatively in these samples, as their presence in small amounts does 

 not interfere with the use of these substances for fumigation. 



Table of analyses. 



Serial 

 No. 



Material. 



Total Calculated Calculated Sj., 

 HCX. to XaCX. to KCX. , t0 x^i 



6523 



Potassium cvanid " 98-99 per cent pure " 



Sodium cvanid " 9S-99 per cent pure " 



Per cent. 

 40.42 

 41.78 



Per cent. 



Per cent. 

 97.41 

 100.68 

 123.44 

 99.88 

 96.30 

 94.67 

 98. S5 



Per cent. 

 0.40 



6524 

 6525 

 6526 

 6527 



75.78 



14.20 



Sodium cvanid "130 per cent pure" 



51.22 

 41.45 

 39.96 

 39.28 

 41.02 



92.92 

 75. 18 



.57 



Sodium cvanid ' 



5.82 



Potassium cvanid '"98-99 r>er cent nure" 



.60 



6528 Potassium cvanid '• 98-99 ner pent mire" 





.77 



6529 



"Sodium cvanid " 2 



74.41 



6.15 









1 A mixture of potassium and sodium cyanids (potassium equivalent to 21.03 per cent KCX . 

 - A mixture of potassium and sodium cyanids (potassium equivalent to 57.92 per cent KCX . 



The purity of sodium cvanid is frequently stated in terms of potas- 

 sium cyanid. 100 parts of sodium cyanid being equivalent to 132.85 

 parts of potassium cyanid: that is, 100 parts of sodium cyanid will 

 yield, theoretically, as much hydrocyanic-acid gas as 132.85 parts of 

 potassium cyanid. 



All of these results are calculated to the potassium cyanid equiva- 

 lent for comparison. Samples Xos. 6527 and 6528 had been exposed 

 to the air for three months or longer before they were received and 

 were undergoing slow decomposition, as shown by the odor of ammo- 

 nia which they possessed. Decomposition would have been much 

 more rapid than here shown if the samples had been exposed to moist 

 air. Cyanids should always be kept dry and out of contact with the 

 air to prevent their decomposition. From the table of analyses 

 it will be seen that samples Xos. 6524, 6526, and 6529 contain con- 



