or  THE  EAHICAL,  MEECUEIC  METHYL. 
167 
Thus  with  hydrochloric  acid  we  obtain  the  chloride,  and  with  sulphuric  acid  the 
sulphate  of  mercurous  methyl, 
On  adding  bromine  to  the  hquid,  a violent  action  results,  and  the  white  and  crystalline 
bromide  is  formed.  Iodine  also  unites  with  mercuric  methyl  with  a loud  hissing  noise. 
If  the  reaction  be  conducted  under  water,  bubbles  of  gas  are  disengaged,  which  prove  to 
be  pure  methyl  gas, 
c[  H,’  Hg} 
The  mercury  in  these  bodies  is  retained  with  remarkable  tenacity,  in  what  may  be 
called  organic  combination.  The  strongest  acids  fail  in  reducing  them  to  ordinary  in- 
organic mercury  salts.  They  are  indifferent  also  to  sulphide  of  ammonium,  at  usual 
pressures  and  temperatures. 
Both  compounds  are  however  decomposed,  with  deposition  of  mercury,  by  the  action 
of  clean  zinc  and  a dilute  acid. 
Mercuric  methyl  is  a ready  solvent  of  resins  and  caoutchouc,  but  it  retains  in  solution 
only  a small  quantity  of  sulphur  even  at  the  boiling  heat.  The  liquid  dissolves  phosphorus 
almost  in  every  proportion,  but  no  transformation  is  effected  by  subjecting  the  two  bodies 
to  a temperature  of  160°  C.  in  a sealed  tube. 
The  solution,  when  allowed  to  evaporate  on  filter  paper,  leaves  the  phosphorus  in  a 
state  so  finely  dmded  as  to  cause  spontaneous  ignition. 
Mercuric  methyl  furnishes  with  bichloride  of  tin  a crystalline  compound  which  readily 
decomposes  on  the  addition  of  water.  Thin  colourless  plates  are  formed,  which  after 
bemg  well  washed  with  water  from  the  soluble  tin  salt,  were  analysed.  The  crystals 
were  dried  over  sulphuric  acid,  and  sublimed  between  watch-glasses. 
0‘7I05  grm.  of  substance  gave  with  nitrate  of  silver  0*4090  grm.  of  chloride  of  silver. 
The  salt  proved  therefore  to  be  nothing  but  chloride  of  mercurous  methyl. 
Cj  H3  Hga  Cl  requires — 
Theory.  Experiment. 
Chlorine 14*18  14*22 
An  analogous  reaction  is  effected  by  a similar  treatment  with  terchloride  of  phos- 
phorus. 
Some  interest  attaches  also  to  the  circumstance  that  mercuric  iodide  combines  directly 
with  mercuric  methyl,  to  form  iodide  of  mercurous  methyl. 
The  change  is  effected  quietly  when  assisted  by  a gentle  heat. 
Mercuric  methyl  is  indifferent  to  the  action  of  the  iodides  of  lead  and  silver,  the  metals 
most  nearly  allied  to  mercury  in  their  general  properties. 
