on Alcohol at common Temperatures, 367 



precipitate. As soon as this takes place, the whole of the solu- 

 tion is transferred to a glass cylinder and mixed with double its 

 volume of strong alcohol. The compound required separated 

 as an oily liquid, which soon solidified to a white crystalline mass. 

 Glyoxylate of potash is white, absorbs moisture from the air, 

 and dissolves with great facility in water; it crystallizes only 

 with difficulty in small prismatic crystals. 



Glyoxylate of Ammoniaj C^ H^ Am 0^ 



Is obtained by precipitating glyoxylate of lime with its equi- 

 valent quantity of oxalate of ammonia, and evaporating the filtrate 

 from the oxalate of lime in vacuo, A hard crust is formed con- 

 sisting of small white crystals. 



By recrystallization it can be easily purified. The glyoxylate 

 of ammonia dissolves slowly, but in large quantities, in water. 

 The solution, especially when strong, is decomposed by boiling, 

 and carbonic acid and a brown resinous substance formed. 

 Alcohol dissolves very little of this salt, but does not precipitate 

 its watery solution. The solid compound, heated on a piece of 

 platinum foil, leaves a large quantity of coal, which burns only 

 with difficulty. 



Glyoxylate of silver could not be prepared in a pure state. A 

 concentrated solution of it evaporated in vacuo, by absence of 

 light, yields white crystals contaminated with metallic silver; 

 the solution is neutral, and deposits a coating of silver on the 

 glass when exposed to the light. 



It appears that the glyoxylic acid contains two atoms of hy- 

 drogen which can be replaced by metals. The lime- salt unites 

 with more lime and forms a compound nearly insoluble in water, 

 which is decomposed by carbonic acid into carbonate of lime and 

 glyoxylate of lime. A similar compound, containing baryta 

 instead of lime, can be prepared. Both decompose very soon 

 after their formation, and therefore could not be analysed. By 

 adding acetate of lead to glyoxylate of lime, a white crystalline 

 precipitate is thrown down. This precipitate dissolves easily in 

 acetic acid and nitric acid ; if heated in a test-tube with some 

 liquid nitrate of silver and a few drops of ammonia, a bright 

 coating of silver is formed on the glass. 



0*2706 grm., dried at 100° C. and burnt with chromate of 

 lead, gave 0-076 CO^ and 0-0265 water. 



0'165 grm. of the same substance yielded 0-117 metallic lead. 



In 100 parts, — 



Carbon ..... 7*6 

 Hydrogen .... 1*08 



Lead 70-90 



^ ..,,... , Oxygen 



