Intelligence atid Miscellaneous Articles. 9,5 i 



potash is decomposed. When the glass receiver becomes too hot, 

 the operation is to be discontinued for some time to cool it, other- 

 wise it will infallibly be broken. In this manner a considerable 

 quantity of nearly pure anhydrous phosphoric acid may be prepared 

 in a short time, with a quarter of a pound of phosphorus. M. Mar- 

 chand obtained more than half a pound of the anhydrous acid. 

 When the combustion is properly conducted, scarcely any vapour 

 escapes. The flocks of phosphoric acid which attach to the receiver 

 and the capsule are to be speedily removed, and preserved in well- 

 stopped bottles. — Journal de Pharm., Juillet 1839. 



CINNAMIC AND FORMIC OTHERS. BY M. MARCHAND. . 



Cinnamic aether is very readily obtained by distilling a mixture 

 of 4 parts of absolute alcohol, 2 parts of cinnamic and 1 part of 

 hydrochloric acid. As its boiling point is very high, that which first 

 comes over may be recohobated several times ; there remains an 

 oily liquid in the retort after about three-fourths of the liquor have 

 been distilled ; this is to be shaken with water, and after decanta- 

 tion it is to be distilled on oxide of lead. The pure aether distils 

 when the temperature reaches 500°. It is limpid, with a slightly 

 yellowish tint, and its specific gravity is 1'13 at about 54° ; its smell 

 and taste are aromatic and sethereal, and resemble those of cinna- 

 mon ; it boils at 500" ; it is very little soluble in water, but very 

 soluble in aether and in alcohol. In contact with potash, it decom- 

 poses very readily into aether and cinnamic acid, which combines 

 with the potash. It appears to form a peculiar compound with am- 

 monia. Fuming nitric acid does not act, or acts but very feebly upon 

 it. It yielded by analysis 



Hydrogen 6*711 



Carbon 75-362 



Oxygen 17-927 



and according to M. Marchand its atomic constitution is 

 Twenty-one equivalents of hydrogen 149*754 

 Twenty-two „ carbon 1681*570 



Four „ oxygen 400*000 



2231*324 

 Whence it follows, says M. Marchand, that cinnamic aether is 

 formed of 1 atom of anhydrous cinnamic acid H'* C'^ O^, and 1 atom 

 of oxide of aethule. It is stated that similar results had previously 

 been obtained by M. Herzog. 



Formic ^ther. — The preparation and properties of this substance 

 are well known. That which M. Marchand analysed had been per- 

 fectly dried over chloride of calcium ; its boiling point was about 

 130°. The specific gravity of its vapour according to M. Liebig is 

 2*57. By analysis it appeared to consist of 



Twelve equivalents of hydrogen 74*877 or 8*02 

 Six „ carbon 458*622 49*13 



Four „ oxygen 400*000 42*85 



933*499 100- 



