2I& On 7ie%vl^ discovered Animal Acids, [Sfipt. 



One hundred parts of it saturate 56*45 of barytes; the weight 

 of its atom is, therefore, 138. The caprate of barytes forms 

 small globular crystals ; 100 parts of water dissolve 0*5 part of 

 this sm. 



Caproic acid is procured from the same substances that yield 

 the butiric and capric acid. It is colourless, its smell is not so 

 strong as that of the capric acid, but it is similar in taste ; it 

 remains liquid at 15° Fahr. and at 77°, its specific gravity is 

 0*923. One hundred parts of water dissolve 1*5 of it, and its 

 hydrate distils unchanged at a higher temperature than water : 

 with alcohol, it unites in all proportions. It is composed of 



Oxygen 3 vols. 



Carbon 12 



Hydrogen 19 



One hundred parts saturate 72*41 of barytes ; its atom must, 

 therefore, be represented by about 108. 



Supposing the hydrogen to be 20 instead of 19 volumes, the 

 composition of this acid would be 3 atoms of oxygen = 24, 12 

 atoms of carbon = 72, and 10 of hydrogen =10, and the weight 

 of its atom 106. 



Caproate of barytes, when the solution evaporates sponta- 

 neously, crystallizes in needles, but if evaporated, it crystallizes 

 at a lower temperature in hexagonal plates. 



The hircic acid is the odorous principle of soap made of mut- 

 ton suet ; it exists in so very small a quantity, that fewer expe- 

 riments have been made upon it than upon the preceding acids. 

 It forms an hydrate, which is but little soluble in water, and 

 does not solidify at 32° Fahr. Its smell resembles that of the 

 goat. With barytes, it forms a salt of difficult solubility, while 

 with potash it produces a deUquescent compound. It is this 

 principle which gives mutton broth its peculiar odour. 



P/iocenic acid is the odorous principle of fish oil soap {^avon 

 des huiles de dauphin). It is colourless ; remains fluid at 24° 

 Fahr. It has a much stronger smell than either the capric or 

 caproic acids. Its hydrate boils at a temperature above that of 

 water, and distils unchanged. Its taste resembles that of those 

 already described. At 77° its specific gravity is 0*932 ; 100 

 parts of water dissolve 5'5 of phocenic acid. It consists of 



Oxygen 3 vols. 



Carbon 10 



Hydrogen , 14 



One hundred parts of this acid saturate 82*77 of barytes. Its 

 atom must, therefore, weigh about 94. Phocenate of barytes is 

 soluble in equal weight of water at 68° Fahr. : the crystals are 

 large, and appear to be octahedrons. 



From the analysis, this acid appears to be a compound 

 of 3 atoms of oxygen = 24, 10 of carbon = 60, and 7 of hydro- 

 gen =: 7, and the weight of its atom will consequently be 9 1 . 



