B 



66 Royal Society : — 



The analytical results yielded by this body agree closely with the 

 formula 



rc 4 H. 



B< H0 2 



Lho 2 



It is therefore obviously produced by the substitution of two atoms 

 of hydrogen for two of ethyle in diethylate of boric dioxyethide : 



ic|H;O a + 2*J}o,=B«| H0 2 5 + 2 C ^4o 2 . 

 LC 4 H 5 2 MJ l.HO a » J 



Diethylate of boric Dihydrate of boric Alcohol, 



dioxyethide. dioxyethide. 



Dihydrate of boric dioxyethide possesses an agreeable etherial 

 odour and a most intensely sweet taste. Exposed to the air it 

 evaporates slowly at ordinary temperatures, undergoing at the same 

 time partial decomposition, and invariably leaving a slight residue of 

 boracic acid. Its vapour tastes intensely sweet. It reddens litmus 

 paper, although in other respects its acid qualities are very obscure. 

 It is very soluble in water, alcohol,' and ether. Exposed to a gentle 

 heat it fuses, and at a higher temperature boils with partial decom- 

 position. 



We are at present engaged with the further study of these bodies, 

 and with the corresponding reactions of zincethyle upon silicic, car- 

 bonic, and oxalic ethers. 



" On Fermat's Theorems of the Polygonal Numbers." First 

 Communication. By the Right Hon. Sir Frederick Pollock, F.R.S., 

 Lord Chief Baron. Received July 11, 1860. 



" On Cyanide of Ethylene and Succinic Acid." Preliminary 

 Notice. By Maxwell Simpson, Ph.D. Received August 1, 1860. 



Succinic acid bears the same relation to the diatomic alcohol 

 (glycol) that propionic acid bears to ordinary alcohol. Propionic 

 acid can be obtained by treating the cyanide of the alcohol radical 

 with potash. Can succinic acid be obtained by treating the cyanide 

 of the glycol radical with the same reagent, or is it an isomeric acid 

 that is formed under these circumstances ? 



C 4 H 3 , Cy + 2 {^ + 2HO = 2 {\ H * 2 + NH 3 . 



Cyanide of ethyle. Propionate of potash. 



C 4 H 4 2Cy + 2/0 2 ||U4H0=0 4 |^ H ^ ^" + 2NH 3 . 



Cyanide of ethylene. Succinate of potash ? 



The following experiments were performed with the view of deter- 

 mining this point : — 



Preparation of Cy^ide of Ethylene. — As a preliminary step to 



