378 Dt Reichenbach o?i Petroleum or Mineral Oil. 



much greater, and on being again cooled crystallized naphtha 

 was obtained. 



When potassium was placed in the oil, some bubbles were 

 evolved in the first moment, as in purified mineral oils ; soon, 

 however, these entirely ceased, and the metal could be preserved 

 without any difficulty, and completely protected from oxidation. 

 In a certain time, as is the case under similar circumstances in 

 the mineral oil, yellow reddish-brown flakes appeared at the 

 bottom of the vessel. 



Shaken cold with concentrated solution of potash of sp. gr. 

 1,36, no solution took place; but after being allowed to stand 

 for a short time, yellowish-red portions of matter were found, 

 which were precisely similar to those afforded by petroleum, and 

 which seemed to be a similar combination which swims on the 

 surface of the potash solution. 



Smoking sulphuric acid is by slight heating rendered brown 

 by both oils, but remains clear ; and both the oils remain colour- 

 less. When shaken with English sulphuric acid of 1.450, the 

 oils are separated into two parts, of which the one is brown and 

 the other clear and colourless. The last smells like mineral-oil, 

 and burns with a strong sooty smoke. 



White nitric acid of 1.350 dissolves both in the cold, but be- 

 comes reddish itself, then clear, and afterwards separates slowly 

 a small quantity of a brownish substance. 



Water dissolves neither, but acquires the same smell from 

 both. 



Alcohol dissolves both in every proportion. Spirit of wine of 

 0.84 has the same dissolving powers in regard to both, viz. 

 as 9: 1. 



Ether dissolves both in unlimited quantity. Water contained 

 in it is expelled by both. 



Almond oil can easily be mixed with both. 



Camphor is easily soluble in both. 



Sandaric is slowly dissolved by both. 



Mastic becomes opaque on its surface in both ; by the appli- 

 cation of heat it is dissolved by both, leaving a white opaque 

 residue. 



Caoutchouc swells rapidly in both, without, however, being 

 dissolved in the cold. 



