stokes.] TRI- AND TETRAPHOSPHONITRIL1C CHLORIDES. 85 
Analysis gave: 
Calculated for 
P 3 N 3 C1 4 <UI V . 
*- 
Found. 
l. 
2. 
3. 
p 
29.94 
13.54 
45.59 
30.00 
13.74 
48.18 
30. 04 
N 
CI 
45.38 
48.37 
2. P:N: 01 = 3: 3.03:4.20. 3. P: 01 = 3:4.23. 
1, 2, and 3 represent different preparations, 1 having been further 
purified by recrystallizing from benzene. 
The chlorhydrine forms a white sandy powder, consisting of Avell- 
defined microscopic prisms. It is very difficultly soluble in boiling 
benzene, and is insoluble in benzine and in carbon disulphide. With 
the latter it shows a peculiar behavior. Its refractive index is such 
that it nearly vanishes and apparently dissolves when brought into 
the disulphide; on decanting the liquid the moist powder shows beau- 
tiful iridescence. Alcohol dissolves it easily and in ether it is much 
more soluble than the original chloride, the presence of a trace of ether 
vapor causing it to liquefy instantly. Water dissolves it somewhat 
slowly, but abundantly, the solution containing hydrochloric acid and 
trimetaphosphimic acid, the latter being left on rapid evaporation on 
the water bath or in vacuo, as a transparent, easily soluble, gummy 
residue. From the aqueous solution of the chlorhydrine, salts of 
trimetaphosphimic acid were directly prepared and analyzed. The 
chlorhydrine is quite stable in the air at ordinary temperature, 1 but on 
heating at 100° it slowly increases in weight through absorption of 
moisture, undergoing decomposition with formation of ammonium 
chloride. It shows no definite melting point, but, on rapid heating, 
liquefies imperfectly, gives off hydrochloric acid, and leaves a mixture 
of amorphous substances of different degrees of solubility in water. 
Other chlorhydrines, partly crystalline, appear to be formed simulta- 
neously, but in relatively small amount, and their isolation is attended 
with difficulties. Whether the 2 chlorine atoms removed are associ- 
ated with the same or with different phosphorus atoms remains to be 
determined. 
Triphosphonitrilic chloramide, P 3 N 3 0l4(NH2)2.— The tendency to the 
formation of stable bodies in which one-third of the chlorine is substi- 
tuted, observed in the case of the chlorhydrine, appears if triphospho- 
nitrilic chloride be acted on in ether solution by ammonia. Gaseous am- 
monia may be used, but this is by no means necessary, aqueous ammonia 
producing the same result. If the chloride be dissolved in ether and 
1 On keeping lor several 111011111.-*, u slight formation of ammonium salts was observed. 
