and some of the ProducU of its decdtnposilioii. 99" 



few analytical determinations. From the analyses of Mar- 

 chand, Simon gives the per-centage composition of sty role and 

 styracine, without however at all attempting to assign rational 

 formulae. The determination of such formulae was however 

 of much interest, as only by these could the relations of the 

 compounds to other groups be shown. To fill up this blank, 

 we undertook, at the request of Prof. Liebig, to make some 

 inquiries in this direction : these were performed in the la- 

 boratory of Giessen, and, we need scarcely add, that during 

 their course we were assisted by his advice. 



We commence with the description of the oil of storax. 



, -.,. . Siyrole. 



^it Preparation. — The material which we employed for the 

 preparation of sty role was the common commercial "liquid 

 storax." It possesses a dark gray colour, and at the tempe- 

 rature of summer is of a soft consistency, which allows it to be 

 drawn into threads. At a low temperature (0° C.) it is hard 

 and brittle. It has a highly aromatic odour, and is so rich in 

 oil, that it can be pressed out with the fingers. Fluid storax 

 oil can be obtained by distilling the balsam with water; but, 

 as the latter contains also free cinnamic acid, it is more ad- 

 vantageous to add an alkali. For this purpose we followed 

 Simon in employing carbonate of soda, in his proportions of 

 14; lbs. of crystallized soda to 20 of storax. We found that 

 the half was quite sufficient. 



The distillation was conducted in a copper retort with a 

 gentle heat; the watery vapour loaded with oil was directed 

 through a serpentine tube. In this way a milky-coloured 

 water distilled over, on the surface of which the oil collected 

 in a transparent, slightly yellow layer. We have submitted 

 to distillation in the above method about 70 lbs. of storax. 

 The material we employed was not all received at the same 

 time, and gave very different amounts of oil. In the first ope- 

 ration we obtained 12 oz. of styrole out of 41 lbs. of storax. A 

 later preparation, in which 27 lbs. of the balsam were em- 

 ployed, gave scarcely more than 3 oz. This difference arises, 

 as Simon has already remarked, from the age of the balsam, 

 as the styrole experiences in time a peculiar change. To this 

 point we shall return later. 



The volatile storax oil, as it is obtained by distillation, 

 contains a small quantity of water, from which it can be easily 

 freed by remaining over fused chloride of calcium. The fluid 

 deprived in this way of water can be regarded as pure styrole, 

 although it still possesses a shade of yellow. To obtain it 

 quite colourless, it must again be submitted to distillation. 



H2 



