[ 249 ] 

 XXXVII. On Sidphocyanogen. By Mr. E. A. Parnell*. 



1. Its Composition. 



VI^HILE engaged with an investigation of the action of 

 * * alkalies on this substance (the results of which will be 

 presently communicated), in which I was unable to account, 

 in a satisfactory manner, for the production of a new acid, I 

 was led to suspect the existence of hydrogen in sulphocyano- 

 gen ; more especially as M. Liebig had obtained traces of 

 water in its combustion by oxide of copper, which he then 

 attributed to hygrometric moisture. 



Before detailing my own results, I may state those which 

 Liebig obtained with reference to this subject {Ann. de Chim. 

 et de P/iys., torn. xli. p. 200.). Three-tenths of a gramme of 

 sulphocyanogen, dried with great care in vacuo, afforded him 

 in four combustions, 



1. 'Oil gramme of water, 



2. -017 — — 



3. -009 — — 



4. -016 — — 



The mean of these gives 0*48 per cent, of hydrogen. 



In repeating the analysis I have invariably obtained a much 

 larger proportion of hydrogen. The sulphocyanogen ex- 

 amined was precipitated from the sulphocyanide of potassium 

 by chlorine, and possessed all the characters of a pure sub- 

 stance : that used in the first and second analyses was kept on 

 a sand-bath, at about 200°, for several hours, and afterwards 

 for four hours in a water-bath at 212°. 



1. 10*36 grains gave 0*85 grain of water equal to 0*91 per 

 cent, of hydrogen. 



2. 10*27 grains gave 7*49 carbonic acid, and 0*84 of water, 

 or equal to 2022 per cent, of carbon, and 0*90 of hydro- 

 gen. 



To avoid all chance of error from the presence of hygro- 

 metric moisture, sulphocyanogen prepared by chlorine was 

 dried in a Liebig' s drying tube for some hours, by a nitre- 

 bath at 242°. At this temperature a faint odour of cyanogen 

 was perceived, but no other change. 



11*02 of this gave 7*93 carbonic acid, and 0*96 of water, 

 equal to 19*91 per cent, of carbon and *96 of hydrogen. 



To estimate the sulphur 10*11 grains were ignited with 

 eight times as much nitrate and carbonate of potash ; after- 

 wards treated with nitric acid, diluted, filtered, and nitrate of 

 barytes added. The sulphate of barytes amounted to 38*54 

 grains, which is equal to 52*59 per cent, of sulphur. 



If the received equivalent of sulphocyanogen be doubled, and 



* Communicated by the Author. 



