Dr. Kane on the CoynUnations derived from Fyroacetic Spirit. 125 



receive the provisional name of Pteleic Acid. Tlie salts which it forms are 

 almost all soluble ; those with the alkalies and alkaline earths are in solution 

 coloured brown, but do not possess any of the reducing properties of the similar 

 compounds of mesitic aldehyd. 



In presenting this memoir to the Royal Irish Academy, I noticed the exis- 

 tence of two acids formed by the action of acetone on permanganate of potash. 

 A salt is at first obtained quite neutral, which after a little time breaks up into a 

 carbonate, and a salt of another acid. The investigation of the properties and 

 composition of these, as well as the more minute examination of the compounds 

 of the pteleic acid, will form the subject of another paper.* 



* The principal Memoirs on Pyroacetic Spirit by previous authors are the following: — 

 Derosne ; Annales tie Chimie, vol. Ixiii, p. 267. — Chenevix ; Annales tie Chimie, vol. Ixix. p. .5. 

 — Macaire antl Marcet ; Bibliotheque Universcllo, vol. xxiv. p. 126. — Matteuchi; Annales tie Chimie 

 et tie Physique, vol. xlvi. p. 429. — Liebig; Annalen der Pharmacie, vol. i. p. 225. — Dumas; An- 

 uales tie Chimie et tie Physique, vol. xlix. p. 208, 



VOL. XVIII. 



