ACTION OF SULPHURIC ACID UPON THE AMIDES AND NITRILES. 
463 
It is evident that this was nothing but the disulphometholate of silver, but M. Mel- 
SENS does not appear to have investigated the subject further, or to have connected 
the appearance of this salt with the evolution of carbonic acid gas, which he likewise 
found among the secondary products of the action of sulphuric acid upon acetic acid. 
The chemical character of disulphornetholic acid is so marked, and the reaction 
which produces it so simple and definite, that there could be no doubt regarding the 
existence of numerous corresponding terms in homologous and even in analogous 
series of substances. In fact disulphornetholic acid may be considered as the type of 
a very numerous class of bodies of similar composition, some of which are actually 
known, while a great many remain to be discovered. 
We have ourselves traced the formation of the homologues and analogues of disul- 
phometholic acid in several higher series of bodies, but we have been satisfied in esta- 
blishing the existence of these substances, without entering into a detailed study of 
their properties. 
Ethyl-Series. 
Preparation of Propionitrile. 
The formation of cyanide of ethyl (propionitrile) by means of cyanide and sulpho- 
vinate of potassium, has all the disadvantages above enumerated in the case of cya- 
nide of methyl. A large quantity of an inflammable gas of a highly offensive odour 
is disengaged, the annoyance of which may be avoided by conducting the gas from 
the receiver of the liquid into the cylinder of a wire gauze burner, in the air-flame 
of which it is perfectly consumed. In the preparation of cyanide of ethyl by means 
of cyanide and sulphovinate of potassium, through the intervention of unavoidable 
moisture, a variety of different reactions appear to proceed side by side. Together 
with the formation of cyanide of ethyl, 
C,H,K, S,0s+KCy=C,H,Cy-fK,S,03 
I V ^ ; 
Sulphovinate of Cyanide of 
potassium. ethyl. 
considerable quantities of carbonate of ammonium are produced, whilst an inflam- 
mable gas is largely generated, which is nothing but hydride of ethyl. This gas is 
not absorbed by bromine ; it therefore cannot contain any ethylene. It combines 
with chlorine, forming a gaseous compound, burning with a green-edged flame. This 
is probably the substance obtained by Drs. Kolbe and Frankland when treating 
ethyl with chlorine gas, isomeric with chloride of ethyl, C 4 H 5 CI. When in contact 
with excess of chlorine it yields an oily substance, and a crystalline body having the 
properties and composition of sesquichloride of carbon. 
An analysis of the substance gave the following numbers : — 
0‘1130 grm. gave 0'4100 chloride of silver. 
Theory. Experiment. 
Chlorine in C 2 CI 3 .... 89-87 89*73 
