222 W. Gibbs on the action of the ; 
Zincic stryphnate is a pale yellowish-white granular precipi- 
tate nearly insoluble even in boiling water. Argentic stryph- 
nate is a white gelatinous precipitate, insoluble in water and 
in nitric acid. This salt could not be completely washed and 
obtained pure for analysis. 
Stryphnic acid—When potassic stryphnate is dissolved in 
boiling water and an excess of chlorhydric acid is added, no 
precipitate is at first produced, but after peers very pale 
yellowish white granular crystals are formed, and the whole of 
the stryphnic acid present is thrown down. The acid is soluble 
in boiling water and crystallizes, when the solution cools, in small 
indistinct crystalline grains, which have a faint but distinct 
yellowish tint and an astringent bitter taste. The sorrel has 
no sensible acid reaction. The acid unites directly with alkalies 
and expels carbonic acid from the alkaline carbonates when 
boiled with them 
Calculated. Found. 
Carbon, — 28:07 28°67 28°66 28°77 
Hydrogen, 2°92" 3°08 3°21 3°29 
Nitrogen, 40°93 er Sos 
xygen, 28°08 Sor See roles 
100°00 
The large excess of carbon in these analyses is due to the ¢X- 
traordinary difficulty of deoxydizing by metallic copper the 
nitrous acid formed during the combustion 
= these analyses it — that the formula of stryph- 
nic 
derivative’ and that its true formula is 
€,H,(NO)N,e. 
Stannous chlorid and ehlorhydric acid do not exert a 
ble action upon stryphnic acid. When, however, the acid is 
ed with metallic magnesium or zinc and chlor hydric re 4 
the solution soon becomes yellow and finally orange. ea 
