[ «« ] 



LXYII. Chemical Notices from Foreign Journals. By E. Atkin- 

 son, Ph.D., F.C.S. 



[Continued from vol. xxii. p. 521.] 



HUBNER*has investigated several decompositions of chlo- 

 ride of acctyle. When this substance is enclosed in a scaled 

 tube with pentachloride of phosphorus and heated for some time 

 to 100°, and for a short time to 190°, an action takes place the 

 result of which is that the tube contains nothing but liquid. On 

 opening the tube, a stream of hydrochloric acid escapes ; and on 

 subsequently distilling the contents, a series of bodies is obtained, 

 the first of which is terchloride of phosphorus, followed by a little 

 oxychloride of phosphorus. The distillate which passed over at 

 about 118° consisted of chloride of trichloracetyle, € 2 CI 3 9 CI, as 

 was proved by converting this substance into trichloracetic ether. 

 Besides this body, and the less highly chlorinated compounds, 

 € 2 H 2 C10, CI and C 2 HC1 2 0, CI, Hiibner considers that the 

 bodies, C 2 H 3 CI 3 , C 2 H 2 CI 4 , € 2 H CI 6 , and C 2 CI 6 ', are also pro- 

 bably formed. 



Chloride of acetyle and cyanide of silver were enclosed together 

 in a glass tube, and heated for a couple of hours to 100° to com- 

 plete the reaction which was set up soon after the tube was sealed. 

 On subsequently opening the tube, an odour of acetamide and 

 hydrocyanic acid was perceived ; and on distilling the contents, a 

 body was obtained which was ultimately found to boil constantly 

 at 93°. The analysis of this compound proved that it was the 

 cyanide of acetyle, G 2 H 3 O G N. This body is lighter than water, 

 in which it dissolves with the formation of hydrocyanic and acetic 

 acids. 



When this cyanide of acetyle is placed in contact with hy- 

 drate of potash or sodium in closed vessels, it is transformed 

 into an oil insoluble in water. Potash only acts when the mix- 

 ture is agitated, but then with such a disengagement of heat as 

 to require cooling down to prevent the evaporation of the cyanide 

 of acetyle. This oil, when washed with water, solidifies to a 

 divergent crystalline mass, especially when touched with a sharp 

 point. Singularly enough it has exactly the same composition 

 as the liquid cyanide of acetyle. It melts at 69° and boils at 

 170°; it remains liquid for some time at a moderate tempera- 

 ture, but then crystallizes in large plates. Boiled with potash 

 it disengages ammonia. 



The author is still engaged with the investigation of these 

 compounds. 



* Liebig's Annalcn, December 1861. 



