1900.] P. C. Ray — Mercurous Nitrite and its Derivatives, 481 



precipitate of sodium nitro-ethane was washed with absolute alcohol. 

 In this manner 25 g. of nitro-ethane yielded 21 g. of the sodium 

 compound. 



It responded to all the characteristic reactions : its aqueous solution 

 turned blood-red with ferric chloride and green with copper sulphate. 

 A concentrated solution of it gave with corrosive sublimate solution a 

 white, mealy, crystalline precipitate. The sodium salt which is ex- 

 tremely hygroscopic exploded with a loud detonation when heated in a 

 narrow test tube. An estimation of sodium is given below. 



0-2416 g. gave 0*1795 g. of Na 3 So 4 . 



Calc. for Found. 



From the above investigations it would appear that by the action 

 of mercurous nitrite on ethyl iodide about equal quantities of nitro 

 ethane and its isomer ethyl nitrite are formed. The yield is, however, 

 somewhat poorer than with silver nitrite, owing to the formation of 

 very compact, hard lumps of mercurous iodide, which interferes with 

 the reaction being completed. 



(4) 



Interaction op Mercurous and Mercuric Nitrites with the Nitrites 

 of Silver and Sodium. 



1. 



Mercuric Nitrite and Sodium Nitrite. 



To the neutral solution of mercurous and mercuric nitrites (the 

 products of dissociation of mercurous nitrite : Journ. Chem. Soc. Trans. 

 1897, p. 340) is added sodium chloride to remove mercurous mercury. 

 The nitrate which now contains mercuric nitrite and a small quantity 

 of sodium chloride if it was added in excess, as well as sodium nitrite, 

 is allowed to evaporate spontaneously. In course of time an orange, 

 crystalline deposit is formed, and this is followed by the appearance of 

 shining iodine-like dark scales; and last of all we obtain a yield of 

 rhombohedral crystals of sodium nitrate. Sometimes the orange-red 

 and black compounds are not obtained, but instead we get only sodium 

 nitrate, sometimes again the three compounds are obtained in regular 

 succession, though one kind may predominate over the others. 



During the last three years I have repeated the experiments several 

 times, but I have not been able so to control them as to ensure the 

 formation of one variety only to the exclusion of the others. 



If there be no sodium chloride present in the mercuric solution, 

 the red and black deposits are not formed, for, as will be seen below, 

 J. ii. 63 



