194 Drs. Letts and Collie on the Salts of 



Or- 





IrflSi tfllr^n 



Oxygen con- 



Carbonic anhy- 





y~x ciio tciii-'L ii* 



sumed. 



dride produced. 





cub. cent. 



cub. cent. 



cub. cent. 



I. . 



. . 5-6 



12-0 



6-0 



II. . 



. . 11-5 



219 



11-5 



Showing that a volume of the gas requires two volumes of 

 oxygen for combustion, and gives one volume of carbonic 

 anhydride. The gas we therefore concluded to be marsh- 

 gas ; for 



CH 4 + 20 2 = 2H 2 + C0 2 

 1 vol. 2 vols. 1 vol. 



The results just described indicate that, like the carbonate, 

 the acetate of tetrethylphosphonium, when heated, suffers two 

 distinct changes. 



The amount of gases yielded by its decomposition (370 

 cub. centims. from 10 grms. salt) is very small, and is 

 probably formed in the same reaction that produces the tri- 

 ethylphosphine ; while the ketone and the phosphine oxide 

 are probably produced by a totally different decomposition. 



(1) (0 2 H 6 ) 3 P<g5) CH 3 = ( C A)3 p0 + CH * C0 • C A- 



(2) (C 2 H 5 ) 3 P<)(5C(5i;| ^j 3 = (C 2 H 5 ) 3 P + C0 2 + C 2 H 4 + CH 4 



Action of Heat on Benzoate of Tetrethylphosphonium. 



The benzoate was prepared by neutralizing hydrate of 

 tetrethylphosphonium with benzoic acid. The solution was 

 evaporated in vacuo over sulphuric acid, and eventually gave 

 a solid mass of radiating deliquescent crystals. 10 grins, of 

 the salt were heated. After the crystals had melted at 160° 

 C, white fumes of triethylphosphine appeared in the dis- 

 tilling flask. The thermometer was then raised out of the 

 liquid (when the temperature had risen to 200° C, and de- 

 composition had begun). The temperature of distillation 

 was higher than usual, the thermometer rising ultimately to 

 above 300°, the liquid which condensed in the receiver 

 being of a yellow colour ; slight charring also occurred. 450 

 cub. centim. of gases were collected, consisting of equal 

 volumes of carbonic anhydride and a hydrocarbon of the 

 define series, probably ethylene. The liquid distillate was 

 composed of about 5 to 5*5 grms. of oxide of triethylphosphine, 

 about *5 grm. of free triethylphosphine (soluble in hydro- 

 chloric acid), and about 3 grms. of a liquid insoluble in the 



