MOLECULAR CONSTITUTION OF THE ORGANIC BASES. 
383 
requires the following' values : — 
1 equiv. of Tetrainethylaminoniiim 
1 equiv. of Iodine 
1 equiv. of Iodine-compound 
Theory. 
Experiment. 
74*0 
36*75 
127*1 
63*25 
62*94 
201*1 
100*00 
The action of protoxide of silver upon the iodine-compound is perfectly analogous 
to that which it exerts upon the ethyl-body. The oxide of tetramethylammonium 
thus liberated is endowed with scarcely less marked properties than the ethyl-base. 
When evaporated over sulphuric acid in vacuo, it likewise dries up to a crystalline 
mass, attracting moisture and carbonic acid with the greatest avidity; saturated 
with acids, it yields crystallizable salts. I have prepared the sulphate, oxalate, nitrate 
and chloride ; the nitrate especially crystallizes well, in long brilliant needles. 
The chloride yields with bichloride of platinum a magnificent double salt, which 
is less insoluble than the corresponding salt in the ethyl-series ; it crystallizes in 
perfectly regular octohedrons of a deep orange colour. When recrystallized from 
boiling water, this salt exhibits the peculiarity to which I have alluded previously 
(see p. 374 ), of yielding a smaller percentage of platinum. Analysis I. was made with 
the precipitated, analysis II. and III. with the recrystallized salt. 
I. 0*2695 grm. of platinum-salt gave 0*0950 grm. of platinum. 
II. 0*1925 grm. of platinum-salt gave 0*0670 grm. of platinum. 
III. 0*3420 grm. of platinum-salt gave 0*1190 grm. of platinum. 
Percentage. 
f 
I. II. III. 
Platinum 35*21 34*86 34*79 
Values corresponding to the formula : — 
rc, H, 
Cg Hi 2 N Cl, Pt CI 2 
C2H3 
Hsf 
N Cl, Pt CI 2 
L^2 H3J 
Theory. 
r ^ ^ 
1 equiv. of Tetramethylammonium . . 74*00 26*50 
3 equivs. of Chlorine 106*50 38*15 
1 equiv. of Platinum 98*68 35*35 
1 equiv. of Platinum-salt 279*18 100*00 
Experiment. 
35*21 
I was exceedingly desirous to submit this oxide to the action of heat ; for this pro- 
cess, provided the methyl-base followed the deportment of its ethyl-fellow, promised 
to give me the long-desired methylene C 2 H 2 . Oxide of tetramethylammonium, when 
heated violently, intumesces, and is completely volatilized; the product of the distil- 
3 D 2 
