Constitution of the Alcohols. 97 



show that, the substance analysed was really a mixture of pro- 

 pionic and caproic acids, another portion of the same product 

 was shaken with a little water ; as was to be expected, a portion 

 was dissolved, the rest swam upon the surface of the water, and 

 was separated by a pipette ; the aqueous portion was neutralized 

 with carbonate of baryta, and the salt crystallized. The crystals 

 viewed under the microscope were prisms mingled with long fine 

 needles of another salt (caproate of baryta). 0*1189 grm. of the 

 salt dried at 100° C. gave 0-0925 of sulphate of baryta = 51-1 

 per cent, baryta. The composition of propionate of baryta 

 requires 53*9 baryta; it contained therefore some caproate of 



baryta. The baryta salt of the acid C 9 H 9 O 4 would require 

 47*7 per cent, of baryta. The oily portion, which was separated by 

 a pipette, was treated with caustic solution of baryta, and the salt 

 crystallized; it consisted of needle-shaped crystals, fatty to the 

 touch, and proved to be caproate of baryta. 0*1444 grm. of the 

 salt dried over sulphuric acid (as it undergoes slight decompo- 

 sition at 100° C), afforded 0*902 of sulphate of baryta, corre- 

 sponding to 41*1 per cent, of baryta in the salt. The formula 



BaO.C 12 H n 3 + HO 



requires 39*7. From these experiments it is evident that, from 

 the decomposition of the mingled cyanides of sethyle and amyle 



by the action of potash, no new acid of the composition C 9 H 9 O 4 

 is formed, but merely a mixture of propionic and caproic acids. 

 It occurred to me that the desired acid might possibly be 

 formed by a modification of the foregoing process. It was not 

 improbable, that if the cyanides of sethyle and amyle were 

 brought in contact in statu nascensti, they might unite in some- 



I * v 



what the same manner as Cyansethine, C 12 H 15 .3C 2 N, is formed 

 by acting upon cyanide of sethyle with potassium. If such a 

 compound of cyanide of sethyle and amyle were exposed to the 

 action of potash, it was highly probable that the desired acid 

 C 9 H 9 O 4 would be formed, much easier than from a mere mix- 

 ture of cyanides of sethyle and amyle, 



(C^.Cn + C^.CnJ+^O + Sl^O 



= ( k20 -Sh"} C ^° 3 ) + 2h3n - 

 It was possible that such a compound of cyanide of sethyle 

 and amyle might be formed by heating an intimate mixture of 

 the sulphoamylate and the sulphovinate of potash in equivalent 

 proportions, together with two equivalents of cyanide of potas- 

 sium, and distilling. 



Phil. Mag. S. 4. Vol. 6. No. 37. Aug. 1853. H 



