84 Mr. T. G. Tilley on (Enanthal, its Compounds, 



Caproic Acid. — When cenanthylate of baryta is no longer 

 deposited from the solution of the mixed salts, the clusters of 

 prismatic crystals which appear are separated and purified by 

 crystallization. They were analysed. 



0*2790 salt gave 0*1500 carbonate of baryta. 



0-4110 salt gave 0*5855 carbonic acid and 0*2180 water. 

 Therefore, — 



Carbon 

 Hydrogen 

 Oxygen 

 Baryta . . 



It is evident, then, that these crystals are caproate of baryta. 



With regard to the formation of caproic acid in this oxida- 

 tion, I at first thought that ' capronal ' was contained among 

 the products of the distillation of castor-oil. I looked for it 

 in vain among the products boiling at about 135° Cent.; and 

 many analyses made only led to the result, that the more vo- 

 latile portions of the oil were rendered so by admixtures of 

 acroleine, and probably by the bicarburet of hydrogen of 

 Faraday. The formation of one atom of oxalic acid and one 

 atom of water explains the presence of caproic acid among the 

 products of the oxidation of cenanthal : 



C 14 H 14 2 + 70-(C 2 4 H + HO) = C 12 H 12 4 , 



one atom of caproic acid. 



Oxalic acid is found in the retort dissolved in the nitric acid 

 liquid. 



Action of melted Potash on (Enanthal. 



(Enanthylic Acid. — CEnanthal is allowed to fall from a pi- 

 pette into a retort containing fused hydrate of potash. Hy- 

 drogen gas is evolved, and cenanthylate of potash is formed. 

 This is decomposed by an acid, the oily acid neutralized with 

 baryta, and the salt formed is cenanthylate of baryta. 



0-281 salt gave 0*1395 carbonate of baryta, which is equi- 

 valent to 38*57 per cent, of baryta, theory requiring 38'75. 



Action of Caustic Potash on (Enanthal in the cold. 



Hydruret of (Enanthyle. — It was observed by Bussy and 

 Williamson, that cenanthal, when mixed with a strong solu- 

 tion of caustic potash, underwent a peculiar change; but they 

 came to no results which explain the nature of this change. 



the result of error; for on carefully making a new trial, the products of 

 the process were cenanthylie acid and a small quantity of a brown tarry 

 matter. 



