OF SUCCINIC AND PTEOTAETAEIC ACIDS, 
G3 
A silver-salt* was also prepared, and gave on analysis the following results: — 
Theory, 
A 
Experiment. 
A 
( 
per cent. 
' I. II. 
III. 
Cg . 
. 48-00 
14-46 
14-58 14-49 
— 
H, . 
Os . 
. 4-00 
. 64-00 
1-20 
19-28 
1-48 1-44 
Ag2- 
. 216-00 
332-00 
65-06 
100-00 
63-87 
The acid possessed also all the properties of succinic acid. It melted a few degrees 
above 180° Cent., and sublimed on the application of a higher temperature. It was 
very soluble in water and alcohol, and sparingly soluble in ether. It gave, when 
neutralized, a reddish-brown precipitate with perchloride of iron. Moreover, on digest- 
ing this precipitate with ammonia, and filtering, an acid could be detected in the filtered 
liquor, which gave white precipitates with nitrate of silver, and with a mixture of chlo- 
ride of barium and alcohol. On passing a stream of muriatic acid gas through a solu- 
tion of the acid in absolute alcohol, an oil insoluble in water was obtained, which 
distilled between 220° and 225° Cent. This was evidently succinic ether. 
The above is an easy and a productive process, and yields the acid at once in a state 
of purity. From 1500 grains of bromide of ethylene I obtained 480 grains of succinic 
acid, or nearly 33 per cent. 
I have studied in addition the action of some acids, and of nitrate of silver on cyanide 
of ethylene. 
Action of Nitric Acid on Cyanide of Ethylene. 
When cyanide of ethylene and nitric acid are evaporated together on a water-bath, a 
white crystalline mass is obtained. This proved to be a mixture of succinic acid and 
nitrate of ammonia. The acid can be completely separated from the nitrate by means 
of ether, of which, however, a large quantity is requisite. A silver-salt of the acid was 
prepared and analysed. It gave 64-07 instead of 65-06 per cent, of silver. 
Action of Muriatic Acid on Cyanide of Ethylene. 
A mixture of cyanide of ethylene and an excess of strong muriatic acid was exposed 
for a few hours in a sealed tube to the temperature of 100° Cent. On cooling, the con- 
tents of the tube became a mass of crystals, which I ascertained to be a mixture of 
* The acid from which this salt was prepared, was obtained in a somewhat different manner. Instead 
of Uherating it from its combination with potash by means of nitric acid, muriatic acid was employed. The 
whole was then evaporated at a gentle heat, and the residue repeatedly digested with absolute alcohol. On 
evaporating the alcohol, the succinic acid was obtained free from the chloride of potassium which accom- 
panied it. The silver-salt evidently contained a trace of an acid having a higher atomic weight than succinic 
acid. 
