624 PROFESSOR FREDERICK GUTHRIE 
I. 0:8680 grms. gave 37-20 per cent. carbon, and 6:24 hydrogen. 
II. 01336 grms. gave 18-04 per cent. nitrogen, 
C,, Hy) 2NO, 
requires, Found— 
C= 37:09 37°20 
e613 6:24 
N=17:28 18:04 
The formation of binitroxide of amylen under these circumstances may be 
explained in two ways,—either there is an initial oxidation of the amylen, the 
nitric acid being thereby reduced to nitric oxide, which joins with the oxygen of 
the air present to form nitroxine. This last thereupon unites with a fresh portion 
of amylen; or the nitric acid, on being boiled, splits up into NO, and O, whereof 
the former unites directly with one portion, while the oxygen goes to oxidize 
another portion of the amylen. Probably both actions are simultaneous, the 
result being the formation of C,, H,, 2NO,, along with another product, containing 
apparently oxide of amyl and nitric acid. 
If the gas obtained by the ignition of well-dried nitrate of lead be passed into 
amylen which is kept quite cold, a rapid absorption results, and crystals of bini- 
troxide of amylen are obtained in great abundance. After washing and recrystal- 
lizing as before, 
0:2682 grms. gave 37:26 per cent. carbon, and 6°51 per cent. hydrogen. 
0°2290 grms, gave 17°66 per cent, nitrogen. 
CH Hane NO; 
requires, Found— 
C=37:09 37°26 
H= 6:18 6°51 
N= 47-26 17:66 
The product, as in the other method of preparation, is mixed with a liquid 
soluble in alcohol, resulting probably in this case from the presence of anhydrous 
nitric acid along with the nitroxine. 
Binitroxide of amylen crystallizes in square and rectangular colourless, trans- 
parent tables, without taste or smell. It decomposes at 95° C. when heated alone, 
giving rise to a gas HNO,, and an oily liquid heavier than water. It is insoluble 
in water, in cold alcohol, and in amylen. It dissolves in hot ether and alcohol; 
also readily in warm glacial acetic acid. Its most convenient solvent, however, is 
chloroform. ‘Thrown upon oil of vitriol it is instantly and violently decomposed, 
a conjugate acid being formed, which forms a soluble salt with baryta. 
The binitroxide of amylen is decomposed in alcoholic solution by caustic 
potash and by sulphide of potassium ; in the former case the binoxide of amylen, 
in the latter the bisulphide of amylen, being formed. Of these, the first will pro- 
bably be soon described by those who are occupying themselves with the biatomic 
alcohols and ethers; the latter has been already described. 
