64 
ME. M. SIMPSON ON THE SYNTHESIS 
succinic acid and muriate of ammonia. The following equation will explain the reac- 
tion : — 
C 4 H 4 Cy2+2H C1 + 8H0=C8 Hg 08+2(N Cl). 
This reaction enabled me to determine the amount of nitrogen in the cyanide of 
ethylene in a very easy manner. It was simply necessary to perform the above experi- 
ment on a weighed quantity of the cyanide, and afterwards to ascertain the amount of 
nitrogen in the mixed crystals by means of bichloride of platinum in the usual way. 
Action of Nitrate of Silver on Cyanide of Ethylene. 
About three equivalents of crystallized nitrate of silver were rubbed up in a mortar 
with one equivalent of pure cyanide of ethylene and a considerable quantity of ether. 
The ether was then poured off, and the residual salt dissolved in boiling alcohol. On 
cooling, the alcohol became a mass of brilliant pearly plates. These were washed with 
ether, dried at 100° Cent., and analysed. The numbers obtained lead to the formula 
C 4 H 4 Cy 2 + 4(AgO, NO 5 ), as will be seen from the following Table : — 
Theory. Experiment. 
Cs- . 
1 — 
. 48-00 
A 
I 
per cent. 
6-31 

I. 
6-29 
1 
II. 
H 4 • 
4-00 
0-53 
0-66 
Ne . 
. 84-00 
11-06 
O 24 • 
. 192-00 
25-26 
Ha ■ 
. 432-00 
56-84 
56-68 
760-00 
100-00 
That this body is simply formed by a union of the cyanide and nitrate in these pro- 
portions udthout decomposition, is confirmed by the fact that, when the crystals are 
treated with strong hydrochloric acid and the whole evaporated on a water-bath, 
succinic acid can be detected in the residue. The acid is evidently formed by the action 
of the liberated nitric acid on the cyanide of ethylene. The crystals are soluble in 
water and alcohol, but insoluble in ether. When heated they explode like gunpowder. 
They do not, however, detonate on percussion. This compound may possibly throw some 
light on the constitution of the fulminates. It gives- a remarkable silver-salt, when 
treated with nitrous acid (NO 3 ), which is insoluble in alcohol, and so fusible, that it can 
be melted under that liquid. This I am at present engaged in studying. 
I have endeavoured to substitute two equivalents of bromine tor the two of cyanogen 
in the cyanide of ethylene, so as to regenerate bromide of ethylene, but without success, 
the molecule being completely broken up by the action of the bromine. 
We are now in a condition to answer the question proposed at the commencement of 
this paper. Succinic acid can be obtained from glycol in the same manner as propionic 
acid from ordinary alcohol ; the bromide of ethylene, the point from which I started, 
being capable of derivation from the diatomic alcohol. 
