64 Messrs. Stenhouse and Groves on Picrorocellin. [May 18_, 



similar to that observed mth the aqueous acid; xanthoroceiliu was formed, 

 but the }deld was much smaller, only 56 per cent., owing, doubtless, to 

 secondary decomposition ; this supposition was corroborated by the fact 

 that the addition of water to the glacial acetic acid solution precipitated 

 the crude xanthoroceiliu as a vellow oil, which only crystallized after it 

 had been standing for some short time. This substance is insoluble in 

 petroleum, and but slightly soluble in hot carbon bisulphide or in ether. 

 It is moderately soluble in hot benzine, and readily soluble in boiling 

 spirit. 



The substance dried at 100° gave the following results : — 



I. "247 gram substance gave '692 gram carbonic anhydride and '115 

 gram of water. 



II. -350 gram substance gave '979 gram carbonic anhydride and '171 

 gram of water. 



III. -160 gram substance gave '-loO gram carbonic anhydride and -079 

 gram of water. 



IV. -261 gram substance gave -02742 gram ammonia. 



V. '240 gram substance gave '02415 gram ammonia. 



Theory. I. H. III. IV. V. 



. . 252 76-66 76-44 76-28 76-71 



H,,.. 17 5-17 5-17 5-43 5-49 



N^' . . 28 8'51 . . . . . . 8-65 8-29 



O. .. 32 9-72 



329 100-00 



These numbers correspond pretty closely with those required by the 

 formula C,,H,,N.p,. 



When xanthoroceiliu was boiled for some time with a moderately 

 strong aqueous solution of sodic hydrate, it acquired a yellow colour, 

 but did not appear to dissolve to any great extent. On collectiug this 

 insoluble compound and washing it, first with strong caustic soda and 

 then with a saturated solution of sodium carbonate, a bright yellow 

 powder was left. This yellow compound, ^hen treated with a small 

 quantity of spirit, to which a few drops of sodium hydrate solution 

 had been added, dissolved only partially, leaving a residue consisting of 

 colourless crystals. These ^^re readily soluble in water ; and on adding 

 an acid to the solutioii, a white precipitate was obtained. The addition 

 of a concentrated solution of sodium hydrate to the clear yellow alcoholic 

 solution immediately produced a yellow precipitate. It was observed 

 that xanthoroceiliu dissolved in boiling water to which a few drops of a 

 solution of sodium hydrate had been added, and on cooling it crystallized 

 out again apparently unaltered. If, however, instead of allowing it to 

 cool, strong soda was added to the hot clear solution, a bright yellow- 

 precipitate was produced. A similar precipitate was obtained on heating 

 xanthoroceiliu with spirit containing a little sodium hydrate in solution, 



