284 SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



Experiments to exift between the formic and acetous acids. Neverthelefs 

 (hewing the ex- there were fl jjj fome doubts to remove, and it was thefe 

 lltence of malic t > * 



as well as foimic which induced the Citizens Fourcroy and Vauquelin to un- 

 acid in ants. dertake the following inveltigations : 



Some red ants {formica rufa, Lin.) were crumed in a mar- 

 ble mortar. A fharp vapour was difengaged, fimilar to that 

 of radical vinegar ; and the alcohol, in which the ants were 

 put to macerate, was tinged yellow. 



This infufion produced, by diftillation, an inflammable li- 

 quor, flightly acid. At the fame time it formed a brownilh 

 fediment, which was carefully feparated. This fediment 

 became covered with an acid liquor, which was faturated 

 with lime. 



The latter combination became brown and thick : it had a 

 pungent naufeous tafte, and the air produced bubbles in it, 

 as in foap-fuds. 



One part of this compound, mixed with one part and a half 

 of fulphuric acid and two of water, produced a very thick 

 magma, which, by diftillation, yielded an acid liquor, with- 

 out colour, of an empyreumatic odour, but which did not 

 difcover any trace of fulphuric acid. 



This acid combined with potafti, formed a true acetite. 



The browniih thick compound, of which we have fpoken 



above, formed, by folution in acetite of lead, an abundant 



* precipitate, which proves that the acid extracted from the 



ants by the alcohol, contained fomething befide the acetous 



acid. 



The fame calcareous compound mixed with a folution of 

 nitrate of lead, yielded an abundant yellow precipitate, which, 

 treated with fulphuric acid weakened by water, formed a new 

 precipitate, heavier and whiter. The fupernatant fluid was 

 flightly acid and fugary : it precipitated abundantly the ni- 

 trates of mercury, of filver, and of lead. 



Many other facts, in addition to thofe we have mentioned, 

 are fufficient proofs that the malic acid is joined with acetic 

 acid in the liquor which is extracted from the ants by the al- 

 cohol; and it is doubtlefs the prefence of this acid which has 

 led thofe chemifts into an error, who formerly treated of this 

 fubjeft. 



The ants, after having been feparated from the alcohol, 

 yielded, by diflillation, an empyreumatic fetid oil, carbonate 



of 



