552 *»» ACETIC ACID AND ACETATES. 



I found acetate of potash, with some potash not satu^ 



rated. 



Pyroacetic spirit Into an equal quantity of pyroacetic spirit of the spe- 



neatedinthe cilic gravity of 0.8086 I put a great deal more caustic 

 jomeway. " - ° 



potash, which dissolved in it slowly, and the liquor became 



of a very bright yellow. I left it thus at least a fortnight. 

 The whole of the potash was dissolved, the liquor was 

 grown much deeper coloured, and its smell was more 

 fragrant, though not fundamentally changed. On dis- 

 tilling this liquor, it came over very clear and colourless, 

 with the same smelly and all its other characteristics. 

 Farther com- ^ n preparing the potash in Mr. Berthollet's manner, the 

 panitive experi- alcoholic solution became browner in proportion to its being 

 concentrated ; and at length earbon was formed, which 

 floated on a very clear and colourless fluid, but at length 

 disappeared* The solution of potash in pyroacetic spirit 

 never lost its colour; but, on distilling it to dryness, a brown 

 mass remained in the retort. This brown mass I dissolved in 

 water, and again reduced to dryness. It was brown and 

 shining. Exposed to the air for eight and forty hours 

 in a platina capsule it did not perceptibly attract moisture; 

 its taste was a little saponaceous and acrid; and acids threw 

 down from it a yellow flocculent precipitate. 



I dissolved a fresh quantity of potash, in the liquor 

 that I had already treated with this alkali, and distilled it 

 afresh in the manner described. The phenomena were 

 precisely the same. Thus it appears, that the potash exerts 

 i ts action at the expence of the entire substance of the 

 pyroacetic spirit, and not on any oil, or other matter, con- 

 tained in it. 

 Action of acids I tried the action of sulphuric, nitric, and muriatic acid 

 t "* d * on the pyroacetic spirit, to learn whether it were capable, lika 



alcohol, of forming an ether. 

 Pyroacetic spirit Into two measures of the spirit, of the specific gravity of 

 <with. sulphuric O8086, I poured one of moderately concentrated sulphuric 

 ** . acid. The mixture heated a little. It became brown imme- 



diately, and a little after very black and thick. After 

 leaving it thus for a fortnight, 1 distilled it. Two fluids 

 passed over: one colourless, and heavier: the other yellow, 

 ia smaller quantity, and floating on the former. They had 



