Prof. Johnston on the Iodide of a ne*uo Carbo-hydvogcn. 5 



The water in the chloride of calcium tube reddened litmus, 

 indicating the presence of muriatic acid, by which the weight 

 of water would be in some measure increased. 



b. 7*61 grs. heated with dry carbonate of soda, gave 7*033 

 grs. of chloride of silver or 22*8 per cent, of chlorine. 



c. 4*462 grs. heated in like manner, but with more care, 

 gave 4-517 grs. of chloride of silver or 24*12 per cent, of 

 chlorine. 



These results give for the composition of the yellow matter 

 A B 



Carbon... 



= 61*55 



= 30 atoms. 



Hydrogen 



5-98 



17-8 — 



Chlorine... 



24-12 22*8 



2-02 — 



Oxygen ... 



8-35 



3-11 — 





100 





This result indicates the irrational formula C 30 H 17 



which gives 







30 carbon = 



2293-11 = 



62-13 per cent. 



20 hydrogen 



212-15 



5-75 — 



2 chlorine 



885*30 



23-99 — 



3 oxygen 



300*00 



8-13 — 



ci 2 o s , 



3690*56 100- 



The elements contained in the above irrational formula are 

 capable of being arranged in several rational positions. 

 The green iodide being C 30 H 20 -f- I, 



The yellow substance may be (C 30 ~ 17 +C1) + C1 (1), in 



which three of hydrogen are replaced by three of oxygen, the 

 atom of iodine by one of chlorine, and the whole combined 

 with another atom of chlorine — the oxygen being derived from 

 the alcohol, which was undergoing a simultaneous decompose 

 lion by the action of chlorine. 



Or, it may be C 30 *?* 3 + H CI . . . (2.) 

 Or Cao-! H 16 +HO . . (3.) 



in both of which the principle of substitution is equally 

 evident. Were we to represent the green compound by 

 C 30 H 20 -f H I, there would even be a conservation of the ori- 

 ginal type of composition *. This type may also be supposed 

 to be sufficiently preserved in the radical, and that it is owing 



[* See the memoir of M. Dumas, p. 442 of the last volume. — Edit.] 



