Mr. E. A. Parnell on Sidphocyanogen. 251 



To return to the composition of " sulphocyanogen." It is 

 greatly to be regretted that we possess no data to decide on 

 the formula of this substance, but its composition per cent, as 

 given by ultimate analysis, which is far less satisfactory in an 

 uncrystallized substance, as in the present instance, than in 

 a crystallized body : and I do not know of any circumstance 

 to guide us in fixing its equivalent. 



The constitution which first presents itself as most pro- 

 bable, is to double the old formula, and add one equivalent 

 of hydrogen to it, which would give sulphur 54*48, carbon 

 20-70, nitrogen 23*97, hydrogen 0*84 = 100. 



But this does not exactly accord with the results of analysis. 

 Taking the mean, we shall have as its composition per cent., 



Sulphur 5259 



Carbon 20*06 



Nitrogen (calc.).. 23*23 



Hydrogen *92 



96-80 

 Here is then a deficiency of 3*2 per cent., which must be 

 considered as oxygen. The formula with which this best 

 agrees, and which I would adopt provisionally, is S 12 C 12 N 6 

 H 3 O , or 



12 Sulphur 24.14 53*27 



12 Carbon 917*22 20*24 



6 Nitrogen 1062*24 23*45 



3 Hydrogen ... 37*43 *83 



1 Oxygen 100*00 2-21 



1 Equivalent... 4530*89 100*00 



On this view of its composition, the reactions which occur 

 in its production by chlorine may be explained in the follow- 

 ing manner : 



3 equiv. of water = H 3 O a 



6 — chlorine = Cl 6 



6 - sulphocyanide \ = S 12 C 12 N 6 K 6 



of potassium J I2 12 b b 



H3 3 S l2 C 12 N 6 K 6 Cl'. 

 Equal to 



6 equivs. of chloride of "I K CI 



potassium J ~~ 6 6 



1 — sulphocyanogen = H 3 O S 12 C 12 N 6 



2 — oxygen = Q 2 



H 3 3 S 12 C 1? N 6 < K 6 .C1 6 

 Or six equivalents of sulphocyanide of potassium, six of chlo- 

 rine, and three of water, become one of sulphocyanogen, six 



