384 Dr. L. Bleekrode on the Electric Conductivity 



of my experiments, conductors, although it cannot be main- 

 tained that facility of chemical decomposition is connected 

 therewith. In acetic anhydride the hydrogen is expelled by 

 potassium and by zinc ; the corresponding decomposition of 

 other compounds, however, takes place only at higher tem- 

 peratures : in benzoic and phthalic anhydrides the entire 

 molecule often passes without decomposition into the new 

 compound. 



5. Electrolysis of Amines and Amides {Ammonia-substi- 

 tutes). 



The first of these I examined was ammonia itself. The 

 chlorides of silver and calcium were saturated with the gas ; 

 and with them quicklime and sodium were enclosed in the 

 condensation-tube, in order, on expelling the gas by heating, 

 to remove the last traces of water. The separated liquid 

 ammonia was several times poured back over the sodium by 

 inverting the tube, and redistilled *. 



Liquid ammonia is a good conductor, and is decomposed by 

 the current. Twenty Bunsen elements gave a deflection of 

 from 5° to 10°, which with 80 elements rose to 90°. There- 

 upon was seen the peculiar phenomenon of the liquid becom- 

 ing of a bright blue colour simultaneously with an abundant 

 liberation of gas. This colour disappeared as soon as the 

 current ceased ; and the liquid became hot. Ammonia, then, 

 behaves as an electrolyte. The positive electrode was black- 

 ened ; and a polarization-current was afterwards very percep- 

 tible. It was not possible to decide definitely respecting the 

 decomposition-products ; a splitting into H and NH 2 is pos- 

 sible, although NH 2 is only known in combination with 

 metals |. The results with substances analogous to ammonia 

 are given in Table III. 



* I have also tried condensing it with liquid sulphurous acid ; but then 

 contamination with aqueous vapour from the air and the formation of 

 sulphite of ammonia were more to be feared. 



t In Pogg. Ann. vol. cxxi. p. 607, Weyl describes the formation of the 



body TT 3 [ • He obtained a blue fluid which separated into its elements 



at a temperature of from 12° to 14° C. The commencement of decompo- 

 sition is shown by the previously deep-dark-blue liquid beginning to lose 

 its colour ; and finally perfectly colourless ammonia is left behind as a very 

 mobile liquid. This agrees with my observations ; therefore in these also 

 ammonia may have been separated, according to the reaction 

 2NH 3 =NH 4 -|-NH 2 . 



