177 
of Edinburgh, Session 1863-64. 
The liquid condensed by a mixture of ice and salt during the 
collection of these gases gave, upon redistillation, a considerable 
portion boiling between 0° and 4° Cent. ; this, as well as that which 
passed over as high as 6° Cent., was shown by analysis to be nearly 
pure hydride of butyl having the composition C 4 Hg, H. 
This liquid has a specific gravity of 0*600 at 0° Cent. ; it is con- 
sequently the lightest liquid known. Its vapour density was by 
experiment found to be 2T1. It is colourless, possesses a sweet, 
agreeable smell, is soluble in alcohol and ether, but not in water. 
Alcohol of 98 per cent, dissolves between 11 and 12 times its volume 
of the gas at 21° Cent. The liquid and the gas are not preceptibly 
afi'ected by sulphuric or nitric acid, nor by bromine ; mixed with 
twice its volume of chlorine in diffuse daylight, the gas is con- 
verted into liquid chloride of butyl, while the original three volumes 
become condensed into two volumes of hydrochloric acid. 
3. — -On the Action of Terchloride of Phosphorus on Aniline, 
By Magnus M. Tait, F.C.S. 
More than a year since my attention was directed to a statement of 
Hofmann’s, that the action of terchloride of phosphorus on aniline 
yielded a white substance of crystalline character, as the investiga- 
tion of this compound so produced seemed likely to be of interest, 
I began its examination, but circumstances prevented me from 
completing it at that time. The publication of Schifif’s papers, 
however, on the metal-anilides again drew my notice to the subject, 
and I considered it a duty to myself to publish the results of my 
experiments, more especially as the reaction which forms the sub- 
ject of this paper appears to have escaped the attention of that 
chemist. 
Terchloride of phosphorus was added, drop by drop, to the ani- 
line, which required to be kept cool by ice, as the reaction tends to 
be of a rather violent character, great heat being produced. In a 
short time the whole solidified into a soft granular mass, which dis- 
solved readily in water, alcohol, and ether. The mass was dissolved 
in hot water, and, on cooling, the excess of aniline rose to the sur- 
face as an oily layer, and was separated by passing it through a 
moistened filter. The watery solution was evaporated at ordinary 
