62 
ME. M. SIMPSON ON THE SYNTHESIS 
with the formula of cyanide of ethylene (C 4 H 4 Cy 2 ), as will be seen from the following 
Table : — 
Theory. 
Experiment. 
A 
c 
per cent. 
r > 
I. II. 
Cs . 
. 48-00 
60-00 
59-20 
H4 . 
. 4-00 
5-00 
5-55 
N2 . 
. 28-00 
80-00 
35-00 
100-00 
34-00* 
This is, I believe, the first example of a diatomic cyanide. It has the following pro- 
perties : — Below the temperature of 37° Cent, it is a crystalline solid of a light-brown 
colour, above that temperature it is a fluid oil. It cannot be distilled. Nevertheless 
it bears a tolerably high temperature without suffering much decomposition. Its specific 
gra^ity at 45° Cent, is 1‘023. It is very soluble in water and alcohol, and sparingly 
soluble in ether. It has an acrid disagreeable taste. It is neutral to test-paper. Gently 
warmed with potassium, it is decomposed, cyanide of potassium being formed in large 
quantity. Its solution in water is not precipitated by nitrate of silver. 
Action of Potash on Cyanide of Ethylene. Formation of Succinic Add. 
An alcoholic solution of crude cyanide of ethylene was prepared in the manner akeady 
described, and introduced, together with some sticks of caustic potash, into a large bal- 
loon with a reversed Liebig’s condenser attached to it. Heat was then applied by means 
of a water-bath, which caused torrents of ammonia to be evolved. As soon as the evolu- 
tion of this gas had ceased, the alcohol was distilled off, and in order to secure the com- 
plete decomposition of the cyanide, the residue was treated with a solution of potash, 
and exposed to heat as long as the slightest evolution of ammonia could be detected. 
A considerable excess of strong nitric acid was then cautiously added, and the whole 
evaporated to dryness. The nitric acid destroys all the impurities present, and leaves a 
mixture of nitrate of potash and a free acid, easily separable by means of alcohol, which 
dissolves the latter but not the former. The acid obtained, on distilling off the alcohol, 
was twice crystallized from water, dried at 100° Cent., and analysed. The numbers 
obtained agree perfectly with the formula of succinic acid, as the following Table will 
show : — 
Theory. Experiment. 
r~ 
^ 
per cent. 
I. 
II. 
Cs . 
. 48-00 
40-67 
40-54 
40-30 
He . 
O3 . 
. 6-00 
. 64-00 
118^00 
5-08 
54-25 
100-00 
5-07 
5-02 
* A slight loss occurred in this analysis. 
