Carbon Diselenide, CSe₂

Carbon Diselenide, CSe₂, has been produced in very small quantity by the action of carbon tetrachloride vapour on the selenide of phosphorus or of cadmium heated to dull redness. In the latter case a mixture of hexachloroethane, selenium chloride, selenium and traces of carbon diselenide, was obtained. The solution obtained by treating the mass with liquid carbon tetrachloride was shown by the addition of alcoholic potassium hydroxide to contain the diselenide, potassium selenoxanthate, KSe.CSe.OEt, separating as yellow needle- shaped crystals.