A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

THE CARBON COMPOUNDS. 193
C,
JEtfane Sulphocyanatc C2H4| gQjj is a white solid, crystallizing iu
plates. It is produced by heating ethene bromide with potassium
8ulpho3yanafce.
Ethmcdisulphonic Acid C,H4 •! QQ'JT-—This bibasic acid is formed
by oxidizing the sulphide, hydrosulphide, or sulphocyanate of ethene
with strong nitric acid. It is also produced by heating ethene dibromide
with potassium sulphite. It is a crystalline solid, which is
very soluble in water, and has a very sour taste. The barium salt
crystallizes in hexagonal plates, and is not decomposed by boiling
nitric acid.
NITROGEN BASKS OF ETIIKNE.
These compounds are formed by the action of ethene dibromide on
alcoholic ammonia, the following reactions taking place:—
C,H4Br2 + 2NHS = N"J H?2 * + 2EBr
2CoH.Br. + 4NH. = N2-l C*H* + 2HBr + 2NH.Br
8 4 5 3 £ I ^_O » ' 4
3C,H4Bra + 6NH3 = N2-j CaH4 + 2HBr + 4NH4Br
tCH
By adding caustio potash to the hydrobTomidea thus fonned the
bases are set free, aud may be separated by fractional distillation.
fflhenediamine C.K/NH^ is a strongly alkaline liquid, possessing
nu ammoniacal smell and caustio taste, and boiling at 123°. Nitro
geu trioxide converts it into cthono oxide ;—»
NaOa = C2H,0 + 2H4O + 2N2
The hydrochloride of this base has been obtained in quantity by
heating the impure ethene dichloride, obtained in the manufacture of
chloral, with an excess of alcoholic ammonia for ten hours to 110°.
The product is distilled in order to remove alcohol, dichlorethane and
other chlorides, and the residue recrystallized from water.
By acting on ethenediamine with ethyl iodide the hydrogen of the
amido-groups is replaced by ethyl, the final product being Iwcethyldkenedwmmoniuvi
di-iodidc ^(Cmj^jH^Ij, which when treated
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