ELAM (C,II.N.= 3 NCyII,), Poliene. A compound substance dim-revered by Liebig. It may be prepared by simply heating sulpho. cyanide of ammonium, or a mixture of sulphoeyanide of potassium and eel ammoniac ; by their action there arc produced three sealatilo products and a solid substance ; the three first are ammonia,sulphuretted hydrogen, and sulphide of carbon ; the solid body is a mixture of melsin and chloride of potassium, which are wally separated by washing with water.
The properties of inelem are :—It is a non-crystalline powder, of a gvayiah white colour, and is Insoluble in water, alcohol, or ether ; a healing solution of potaeli dissolves and eventually decomposes It; boiling and concentrated nitric and sulphuric acid dissolve It, and the eubitiona, when treated with alcohol, produce aprecipitate of ammelido ; when the add solutions are boiled for 110020 hours, the mckun is con verted into ammonia and cyanuric acid.
PI the action of heat melam is converted into ammonia and mellon hydrochloric and dilute nitrio Reid convert it into asurneline and melamine : and when fused with hydrate of potash, ammoniacal gas arAl cyanate of potash are produced.
It is imoracrie with cyanamide.
X 3 NCyl One of the simplest processes for preparing melamine is inelain until it dissolves in a moderately strong solution of potash; when the liquor Ina been con centrated and cools, melamine separates in orystals, and by rocrystal button it is obtained in a pure state.
Its properties are :—It crystallises in rhombic octohodrons, which are transparent and colourless, or only slightly yellow. It is very 'lightly soluble in cold water, but more so in boiling water. It is insoluble in alcohol or in ether, and is unalterable in the air ; the aqueous solution has a bitter taste and has no action on vegetable colours. When dry melamine is it fusee, and sublimes almost entirely without decomposing; but a small portion is converted into mellow and ammonia.
Concentrated sulphuric acid and nitric acid decompose it, when heated, into ammonia and ammelido or atumeline. When fused with hydrate of potash, there aro produced ammonia and cyanato of potash.
It combines with dilute acids to form Palle, all of which have an acid rcactiou except the double basic salts. The nitrate, phosphate, and oxalate aro less soluble than the melamine itself ; but the acetate 'and formiate are very soluble. Melamine precipitates a part of mag nesia from solution, and forms a double salt, with that which remains dissolved.
It is isomeric with cyanamide.