424 
DE. A. ^Y. TTOEArAXX OX THE PHOSPHOEUS-BASES. 
tion of the sulphuretted hydrogen ; a solution of this gas in water, when mixed with 
a few drops of triethylphosphine, may be preserved in air-filled vessels much longer 
than without this addition. 
Behaviour of Triethjljphosphine with Suljf iide of yitrogen. 
Sulphide of Nitrogen, Ng S 2 (1), prepared as recommended by Foedos and Gelis, ^iz. by 
the action of ammonia on chloride of sulphur dissolved in disulphide of carbon, is decom- 
posed by triethylphosphine, with evolution of light and heat. Gas is evolved, and at 
the same time a yellowish liquid is produced, which, on cooling, solidifies into a fibrous 
mass of crystals of the sulphide. 
Behaviour of Triethylphosphine with Mercaptan. 
When these two bodies are mixed together in an atmosphere of carbonic acid, no 
alteration takes place even if they are left in contact for some time, or if they are 
heated to 100° in sealed tubes for twenty-four hours. But if the mixture be poimed 
into an air-filled flask, crystals of sulphide of triethylphosphine make their appearance 
in a few hours. The crystals increase if the aii’ has free access to the mixtime ; but if 
the flask be corked, the crystallization is interrupted. On opening the flask, the entry 
of the air may be recognized by the light cloud which the phosphorus-base, diflused 
through the atmosphere of the vessel, forms ufith the oxygen. AAlien a mixture con- 
taining excess of mercaptan was left for a few days in an open flask, every trace of phos- 
phorus-base had disappeared, and the remaining colourless liquid was filled with cn stals 
of the sulphide. On mixing this liquid with water, it separated into two layers, the upper 
of which quickly solidified, especially on exposime to the air, to an imperfectly crystal- 
line mass, easily recognized as a mixture of sulphide of triethylphosphine nith excess of 
mercaptan. The impure crystals were exposed for a while to the air and then recrystal- 
lized from boiling Avater. 
0-3703 grm. of the crystals, dried over sulphuric acid in vacuo, gave 0-6485 grin, 
carbonic acid and 0-3304 Avater. 
The formula 
requires — 
C,H,,PS=(C2H5)3PS 
Theory- 
■ 
Experiment 
Ce 
72 
48-00' 
47-76 
Hi5 
15 
10-00 
9-91 
p 
31 
20-67 
s 
32 
21-33 
150 
100-00 
The loAver stratum of liquid is aqueous alcohol containing small quantities of oxide of 
triethylphosphine and mercaptan. To remoA e the latter, the liquid was shaken up AAfitli 
recently precipitated mercuric oxide and distilled. The distillate, rectified seA eral times 
