142 M. P. Schtitzenberger on the Substitution of the 



The following experiments exhibit the constitution of acetate 

 of oxide of chlorine. 



Action of Metals. — Platinum, iridium, gold, silver, and pal- 

 ladium, unless finely divided, are without action in the cold. 

 Platinum-black or sponge effects the decomposition of the acetate 

 of chlorine, even at ordinary temperatures, into chlorine, oxygen, 

 and anhydrous acetic acid. Heated to 50° or 60° C, a similar 

 decomposition is effected by the other metals, even when they 

 are not finely divided. There is no formation of chloride or 

 acetate of the metal employed ; and, in fact, the action is purely 

 one of contact. 



A second class of metals react at ordinary temperatures or at 

 50°, with formation of acetate of the metal and disengagement 

 of chlorine, a small quantity of chloride of the metal resulting as a 

 product of a secondary action. Sodium, potassium, and magne- 

 sium, which act with great energy, and aluminium, manganese, 

 iron, nickel, zinc, bismuth, copper, lead, cadmium, mercury, tin, 

 and antimony, which act with varying degrees of energy > belong 

 to this class. 



The third class contains the metals which do not act in any 

 way under any circumstances. Only chromium and platinum 

 which has been fused belong to this class. 



Peroxide of manganese does not act at all on acetate of chlo- 

 rine. Peroxide of lead acts when heated, behaving like plati- 

 num-sponge, only less energetically. 



The metalloids act powerfully. Sulphur is very violent, sul- 

 phurous acid and chlorine being disengaged : — 



4((C 2 H 3 OCl)0) + S = S0 2 + Cl 4 + 2((C 2 H 3 0) 2 0). 



Iodine dissolves instantly and is decolorized. There escapes 

 chlorine. No chloride of iodine results. Bromine behaves like 

 iodine. 



Phosphorus acts violently, giving phosphoric acid, there being 

 disengagement of chlorine. 



Arsenic acts with violence, evolving chlorine and forming ap- 

 parently an acetate of arsenic. 



Amorphous silicon is without action, even when heated. 



Wood-charcoal and graphite act when heated, producing chlo- 

 rine and carbonic acid. 



Binary compounds of active elements behave as if the two 

 elements were separate. Thus iodide of potassium evolves chlo- 

 rine, giving acetate of potash and acetate of iodine. Chloride 

 of iodine disengages chlorine and gives acetate of iodine. 



The sulphurets of copper and bismuth, &c, give off chlorine, 

 sulphurous acid, and leave an acetate of the metal. 



Arseniuret of iron evolves chlorine, giving acetate of per- 

 oxide of iron and apparently acetate of arsenic. 



