MOLECULAR CONSTITUTION OF THE VOLATILE ORGANIC BASES. 
95 
the form of water, becomes cyanogen (oxalonitrile); an analogous change occurs with 
the acid salts of ammonia, resulting in the formation of two classes of compounds, 
differing, the one by two, the other by four equivalents of water, from the original 
salt. 
The representation of several of these groups in analogous derivatives from the 
salts of organic bases, especially from the salts of aniline, could not but strengthen 
the belief that ammonia actually pre-exists in the organic alkaloids. Incidentally to 
some researches communicated to the Chemical Society ofLondon*, Igave a synopsis 
of all the facts supporting the view of Berzelius, 
The prosecution however of this inquiry has elicited many points, which are scarcely 
reconcileable with this theory. In another paper'l' I endeavoured to show that the 
force of the argument in favour of this view, derived from the considerations just 
stated, is greatly neutralized on the completion of the comparison between the two 
series by the failure of the analogy, just at the point where its occurrence would have 
been most decisive. Now this very failure is not only in perfect harmony with, but 
would be required by, the theory of amidogen-bases. 
Yet stronger grounds for the acceptation of the latter view have been afforded by 
a splendid investigation of M. Wurtz;}; on the compounds of ethers with cyanic acid, 
which have actually realized a series of substances, anticipated in a most remarkable 
manner by Liebig on the theoretical ground of his conception of the nature of these 
compounds. Instances of such anticipation of discovery are so rare, that I may be 
allowed to quote the words in which Liebig predicted nearly ten years ago the dis- 
covery of M. WuRTz : — “ If,” said Liebig §, in continuing the development of his ideas 
respecting the constitution of the organic bases, “ we were enabled to replace by 
amidogen the oxygen in the oxides of methyl and ethyl, in the oxides of two basic 
radicals, we should without the slightest doubt obtain a series of compounds exhibit- 
ing a deportment similar in every respect to that of ammonia. Expressed in symbols, 
a compound of the formula 
C4 H5, H2N=E,Ad 
would be endowed with basic properties.” 
Now these compounds, imagined in 1840 by Liebig in illustration of his views, 
have sprung into existence in 1849, with all the properties assigned to them by that 
chemist. At the beginning of the present year, M. Wurtz, in investigating the cya- 
nates of ethyl, methyl and amyl, arrived at the unexpected result that these com- 
pounds, when decomposed by potassa, undergo a change analogous to that of cyanic 
acid. This acid, when treated with potassa, yielding carbonic acid and ammonia, the 
corresponding ethers were split into carbonic acid and compound ammonias of the 
exact formula indicated in Liebig’s suggestion. 
It would be difficult to imagine a more brilliant triumph for any theoretical specu- 
* Researches on the Volatile Organic Bases, III. Action of Chloride, Bromide and Iodide of Cyanogen upon 
Aniline, Chem. Soc. Quart. .Tourn. i. p. 285. 
t Chem. Soc. Quart. Joum. ii. p. 331. J Compt. Rend, xxviii. p. 223. § Loc. cxl. p. 235. 
