76 
DE. E. FEANKLAJSTD’S EESEAECHES ON OEGANO-3IETALLIC BODIES. 
I had anticipated that the decomposition of dinitroethylate of lime by sulphuric acid 
would yield either protoethide of nitrogen (N C4 H5) or ethoprotoxide of niti’ogen 
(N C4 H5 O), but the action of the concentrated acid evidently proceeds too far for the 
production of this result. Further experiments must decide whether or not the employ- 
ment of a more dilute acid for the decomposition will not lead to the production of one 
of these compounds. 
Action of Zincmetliyl upon Binoxide of Nitrogen. 
Binitromethylate of Zinc and Zincmethyl. — Zincmethyl absorbs binoxide of nitrogen 
much more slowly than zincethyl takes up the same gas ; nevertheless at the ordinaiy' 
atmospheric pressure, the two bodies gradually unite and form colourless ciystalline 
needles, closely resembhng, in all their reactions, the dinitroethylate of zinc and zincethyl. 
I have made no analyses of this body, but considering the homology existing between 
zincethyl and zincmethyl, together with the product of its decomposition by water, there 
can scarcely be a doubt that it is dinitromethylate of zinc and zincmethyl, and that its 
formula is 
N,C,H3 04 Zn+C 3 H 3 Zn. 
It rapidly oxidizes in the air, and takes fire when exposed in considerable quantity. 
It is instantly decomposed by water, giving light carburetted hydrogen and an opalescent 
solution of basic dinitromethylate of zinc. 
N3 C3 H3 O4 Zn+C^ H3 Znl rC^ H3, H 
HOJ LN^ C3 H3 O4 Zn-fZnO. 
Dinitrometkylate of Zinc. 
N3C3H3 04 Zn+H 0 . 
A quantity of the dinitromethylate of zinc and zincmethyl was prepared by the action 
of compressed binoxide of nitrogen upon zincmethyl, in the strong copper vessel above 
described. The resulting crystalhne compound was decomposed by water, and the 
opalescent solution being treated with carbonic acid, boiled, and filtered, yielded, on 
evaporation, minute crystals of dinitromethylate of zinc. These crystals, dried at 100° C. 
and submitted to analysis, gave the following results : — 
I. I'4200 grm., burnt with oxide of copper, gave ‘6872 grm. carbonic acid* and 
•4473 grm. water. 
II. -3585 grm., treated with nitric acid and ignited, gave T212 grm. oxide of zinc. 
III. ’0982 grm., similarly treated, gave ‘0333 grm. oxide of zinc. 
* This analysis exhibits a considerable excess of carbon, which is due to the passage of binoxide of nitro- 
gen into the potash bulbs, and the consequent formation of nitrite of potash. It appears to be impossible 
to decompose the whole of this gas by ignited copper turnings, in conducting the combustion of substances 
so rich in oxidized nitrogen as the dinitroethylates, and especially the dinitromethylates ; hence, in the 
analyses of the salts of both these acids, the per-centage of carbon is almost invariably too high. 
