118 Dr. Kane on the Combinations derived from Pyroacetic Spirit 



Carbon =22.17 1 



Hydrogen =1.75 i 100.00. 



Iodine = 76.08 I 



XII. OF HYPO-NITRITE OF OXIDE OF PTELEYL. 



When mesitic alcohol is treated with sulphuric acid and peroxide of manga- 

 nese, it distils over perfectly unaltered if the acid be employed dilute ; — and if 

 strong acid be employed, the products are merely mesitylene and traces of mesitic 

 ether ; — the manganese being left out of the reaction, and the acid and alcohol 

 acting, as described in the former part of these researches. 



If pure mesitic alcohol be mixed with one-half its own volume of strong nitric 

 acid, and the mixture warmed, a very violent effervescence takes place, and a 

 great quantity of red fumes is given off; if the application of the heat be conti- 

 nued for the purpose of distilling the mixture, the decomposition becomes explo- 

 sively violent, so that on two occasions where it was attempted, the retort was 

 burst. When with the idea of moderating the action a dilute acid is employed, 

 but little change takes place, and the product in the receiver consists of mesitic 

 alcohol quite undecomposed. If, however, on mixing the strong nitric acid and 

 mesitic alcohol, and warming the mixture until the effervescence shall have com- 

 menced, the vessel be plunged into cold water, and the action thus retarded, — 

 then again a little warmed, and again cooled, this treatment being repeated several 

 times, — and finally, the whole mixed with five or six volumes of water, there sub- 

 sides a heavy, pale yellow, fluid, which may be washed with water, until all 

 adhering acid be removed, and then dried by digestion on some fragments of 

 pure chloride of calcium. Thus obtained, this fluid is a mixture of two, and its 

 consistence varies according as the one or the other preponderates, the one being 

 thin, the other ^bout semifluid. The quantity of the latter is greater, according 

 as more red fumes have been driven off; the former predominates when the 

 dilution with water was effected before the decomposition had proceeded far. 

 Neither can be thus obtained absolutely pure, but their nature may be deter- 

 mined with sufficient certainty. 



The lighter and thin fluid substance is heavier than water, by which it is gra- 

 dually decomposed. It is immediately dissolved by an alkali, the liquor becoming 



