A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

192 THE CUEMISUBT OF
crystallizes on cooling in white deliquescent needles; Potassium
isethoDiate is forjned by heating ethene chlorhydrate with an aqueous
solution of potassium sulphite:—
Ammonium IsetfimiaU C2H4 •! gQ J^JJ crystallizes in colourless
prisms, whieh when heated above 200° are converted into amido-
ethylsulpltonte mid or tanrine CjH4 •< OQ Jr» & compound which occurs
in the free state and combined with cholic acid (taurocholic acid) in
the bile, in the intestinal liquid, and in the lungs. It is best prepared
from the bile of the ox, by boiling it for some time with hydrochloric
acid and evaporating the filtered solution. The residue is exhausted
with alcohol and the solution evaporated to crystallization. Taurine
crystallizes in large colourless prisms, which are tasteless and only
sparingly soluble in water. It is a monobasic acid and very stable
body, which is not acted upon by boiling nitric acid; but nitrous acid
converts it into isethonic acid:—
On distilling potassium isethoniate with phosphorus pentachlorido
isethonic chloride C2H4 •! «Q Q, is obtained, which is decomposed by
water with the formation of hydrochloric acid and chlorcthyl&uljjhonic
( Cl
acid, CaH4 •] QQ QTT By acting with aqueous ammonia on the silver
salt of this acid taurine is formed.
JEtJiene Dihydrosulphide or Mhem Mcrcaftatt C?H4-J gjj is prepared
by distilling ethene dibromide with an alcoholic solution of
potassium liydvosulphide. It is a limpid, very refractive liquid,
boiling at 142*, possessing a strong, disagreeable smell, and forming,
like other lnercttptttns, metallic compounds.
( OTT
Ethme Hydroxytntlphidc C2H4 -I Qg is a liquid with similar properties.
It is produced by the action of ethene chlorliydrate upon
potassium hydrosulphide, and yields on oxidation isethonic acid.
Ethene Sulphide (C2H4)SS2 is obtained by distilling etliene bromide
with an alcoholic solution ot" potassium sulphide. It is a crystalline
solid, nieithig at 111° and boiling at 200°, but subliming readily at a
lower temperature. The vapour density of this compound is 60 (11 = 1),
from which it follows that the molecular formula is twice C,H4S; its
constitution must therefore be the following:—