Dr. Kane on the Combitiations derived from Pyroacetic Spirit. 121 



56.8 100.0 



The production of this substance, by the action of nitric acid, as well on mesitic 

 alcohol as on mesitylene, is easily understood. Thus 



CgHeOj+NO^l 



^ = Cg H4 ©2 and NO3, which is expelled ; 



— Hj — O2 J 



and 



CgH^ + NOj 

 — NO3 



Cg H4 Oj = Cg H3 o -|- HO ; hydrated oxide of pteleyl, or the aldehyd of the mesitic 

 series. 



This substance is but sparingly soluble in water ; in an alkaline solution it 

 instantly dissolves, giving a yellowish brown liquor. It absorbs dry ammonia 

 with great rapidity, forming a brown, resinous-looking mass, which dissolves in 

 water ; and the solution, by cautious evaporation, yields crystals of the mesitic 

 aldehyd ammonia. If a solution of this aldehyd ammonia be added to a neutral 

 solution of nitrate of silver, there is immediately produced a yellow precipitate, 

 which, when heated in the liquor, gradually grows black ; the reduction is, how- 

 ever, in this way, imperfect. On the contrary, if the oxide of silver be separated, 

 by a drop of water of potash, it is immediately reduced, the metal being deposited 

 mostly as a black powder, and only partly and occasionally lining the interior of 

 the tube. In no case is the mirror surface generated, which is produced in the 

 reduction of silver by the aldehyd from ordinary alcohol. 



There is no doubt but that an acid having the radical pteleyl Cg H3 as its basis 

 is here produced, by a reaction similar to that which forms acetic acid, in the 

 reduction of silver by vinic aldehyd. I have not, however, attempted to isolate 

 it, or to determine its identity with that resulting from other processes now to be 

 described. 



VOL. XVIII. B 



