Theoretical Discussion . 
443 
in the case of ferric chloride solutions in phenyl-methyl ether. 
Ethyl carbonate does not yield solutions that conduct. The 
same is true for chloral solutions, and the esters of high car¬ 
bon content yield solutions the conductivity of which is very 
slight. In the case of the substitution of chlorine for the 
ethoxy group in ethyl carbonate the number of spare valences 
is undoubtedly reduced, yet this product, ethyl chlorearbonate, 
yields solutions that conduct well. 
In compounds containing nitrogen, Bruhl holds that the con¬ 
ductivity of their solutions is due to the extra valences of the 
nitrogen. He predicts that hydrazine will prove to yield solu¬ 
tions that conduct. It has been seen that phenylhydrazine 
does not yield solutions of the salts tested that conduct elec¬ 
tricity; however, it still remains to be seen what hydrazine will 
do. He states that, in general, the dissociative power in the 
case of nitrogen compounds will vary with the nitrogen content, 
without being proportional to it, however; just as he claims it 
varies with the oxygen content of oxygen compounds. He fur¬ 
ther predicts that the anhydrous hydrocyanic acid, diazo com¬ 
pounds, and even unsaturated compounds of the elements other 
than oxygen, namely, PC1 3 , AsC 1 3 , mercaptans and sulphur 
ethers, will possess dissociation power. Attention has been 
called to the fact, that when the CN group is substituted for 
hydrogen in ethyl acetate, the conductivity is materially in¬ 
creased. Nitriles do yield solutions that conduct very well. 
Contrary to Briihl’s prediction, PC1 3 does not yield solutions 
that conduct; but in the case of AsC 1 3 his prediction is con¬ 
firmed. Werner found that solutions of cuprous chloride in 
methyl sulphide conduct very poorly. Prom the evidence we 
have at present it seems that the theory that the dissociative 
power of solvents is due to the unsaturated valences, that 
is, that the only solvents that yield solutions that conduct 
electricity, are unsaturated compounds, is not substantiated by 
the facts in many cases. Therefore the theory as promulgated 
by Bruhl is untenable. 
It is quite noticeable that a large number of the investigators 
of the properties of non-aaueous solutions, express the thought 
that there is manifested considerable influence between the dis- 
29 
