144 C. L. Jackson—Methy!l and Benzyl Compounds. 
Mephitis americana. Melting-point 85° (uncorr.). But slightly 
soluble in cold water, indefinitely so in hot, quite freely soluble 
in cold alcohol, much more in hot, almost insoluble in ether. 
Its solutions have an acid reaction and set free carbonic anhy- 
dride from the carbonates. 
Ammonic Benzylselenite was prepared by dissolving the acid 
in ammonia and driving off the excess of ammonia by evapora- 
tion on the water-bath. It is extremely soluble in water and 
can be obtained with some difficulty in wart-like aggregations 
of crystals. 
Argentic Benzylselenite (C,H,)SeOOAg was prepared by mix- 
ing aqueous solutions of ammonic benzylselenite and argentic 
itrate. The white curdy precipitate was purified by crystal- 
lization from a very large quantity of boiling water. 
Calculated for (C;H;)SeOOAg Observed. 
ag See ee 34°95 34:33 
It forms long hair-like crystals which mat together into a 
felt-like mass. en heated in the water-bath it turns black, 
evaporation as an imperfectly crystalline white mass very 
soluble in water. 
ric Benzylselenite, prepared by dissolving baric carbonate 
in an aqueous solution of the acid is white and very soluble. 
Plumbic Benzylselenite, prepared by precipitating ammonic 
benzylselenite with plumbic nitrate is white and imperfectly 
crystalline, insoluble in cold water, and even less soluble in 
boiling water than the silver salt. 
Benzyl Selenocyanate (C,H ,)SeCN.— Alcoholic potassic selen- 
ocyanate, prepared according to the method of Crookes* was 
treated with benzyl chloride till its smell remained after shak- 
ing. The liquid poured off from the potassic chloride formed, 
deposited white needles which were purified by reerystalliza- 
tion from alcohol or ether. 
Calculated for (C;H,)SeON. Observed. 
a eee 94:23 48°99 
Hydrogen...... 3°59 ‘92 wees 
Nitrogen....... 7-23 helen 7:39 
It crystallizes with the utmost ease in long white needles or 
prisms, with a most disagreeable smell like that of the Sym- 
oigadge st sir-siee Melting-point 71° (uncorr.). It is insolu- 
le in water,*soluble in ether and alcohol unattacked by hydro- 
chloric acid, oxidized by fuming nitric acid. 
_ * Annalen der Chemie und Phamacie, Ixxviii, p. 177. 
