Fruit o/* Menispermum Cocculus. 165 



The acid therefore contains in the state of hydrate 1 atom 

 of water, which is replaced in the salts by one equivalent of 

 base. 



StearophanateqfSoda. — This salt was prepared by digesting 

 the pure acid with an excess of carbonate of soda. On expo- 

 sing it to a gentle heat the carbonic acid is expelled with vio- 

 lent ebullition, and a perfectly clear solution formed, which 

 was evaporated to dryness in the water-bath. The finely 

 powdered mixture was then digested with absolute alcohol, 

 which leaves the excess of carbonate of soda undissolved : a 

 perfectly clear solution is obtained, which however soon so- 

 lidifies into a gelatinous mass, which, transferred to a filter and 

 dried by exposure to the air or between folds of bibulous paper, 

 leaves behind a crystalline tissue consisting of long prisms, 

 with a strong nacreous lustre. 



This compound, when treated with a small quantity of water, 

 forms a stiff jelly ; it is decomposed on the addition of much 

 water into an acid crystalline salt, which settles slowly, and im- 

 parts to the liquid an opake appearance. 



Several stearophanates may be prepared from this salt by 

 double decomposition. 



Stearophanate of Silver. — This compound was prepared by 

 decomposing a weak alcoholic solution of the preceding salt 

 by a perfectly neutral solution of the nitrate of silver. The 

 precipitate is very bulky, but it soon settles. The white co- 

 lour which it at first possesses is only of momentary duration; 

 it acquires a slight tint of brown. Well washed and dried, it 

 can be exposed to light without undergoing apparently any 

 further decomposition. It dissolves easily in a solution of 

 caustic ammonia. 



i. 1*134 grm. of the salt, well dried at 100°, left after igni- 

 tion 0*317 metallic silver, corresponding to 0*3404 oxide of 

 silver. 



ii. 0*379 grain of the salt- gave 0*105 silver, corresponding 

 to 0*1127 of the oxide. 



This gives in 100 parts, — 



1 atom Oxide of silver. . 

 1 ... of Stearophanic acid 



On burning with oxide of copper, — 



i. 0*543 grm. of the silver salt gave 1*0695 carbonic acid, 

 and 0*433 water. 



ii. 0*4925 grm. of the salt gave 0*9763 carbonic acid, and 

 0*393 water. 



