Page:Scientific Memoirs, Vol. 1 (1837).djvu/170

 of potash or soda be poured over this salt, the ammoniacal odour is not immediately developed, but becomes so after continued contact or the application of heat. This circumstance might lead to the supposition, that in this compound there is a similar relation between the acid and the alkali as in the cyanate of ammonia.

At the same time it must be observed, that acids immediately decompose this compound, the oil being deposited, undecomposed, and a corresponding salt of ammonia formed. 0*21 3grm. of hydrospiroilate of ammonia obtained in crystals by evaporating the alcoholic solution was decomposed by dilute muriatic acid ; the solution thus obtained was evaporated to dryness in a water-bath, and the remaining neutral saline mass again dissolved in water. By precipitation with nitrate of silver, 0"239grm. of chloride of silver were obtained; as these correspond to 0'0288 of ammonia, the above 0*21 3grm. consist of

Spiroilide of Potassium.

The spiroilide of potassium may be obtained either by gently heating together potassium and hydrospiroilic acid, hydrogen being evolved, or by bringing together either the pure or the watery hydrospiroilic acid and solution of potash. Spiroilide of potassium is difficulty soluble in water.

If the aqueous solution be slowly evaporated, small prismatic straw-coloured crystals are obtained. Left in contact with the air it soon decomposes, absorbing moisture and carbonic acid, like the hydrospiroilate of ammonia. It may nevertheless be kept unaltered for a long time in close vessels. The smell resembling that of roses is likewise perceptible during the decomposition of this substance; at the end, carbonate of potash remains.

Spiroilides of Sodium, Calcium and Barium. These possess similar properties to the spiroilide of potassium, but the two latter compounds are still less soluble in water.

Spiroilide of Magnesium may be obtained by agitating together the