224- Mr. B. C. Brodie's Investigation on the 



and passing hydrochloric acid gas through the solution. This 

 substance has the appearance of a soft wax, and melts at 59°- 

 60° C. 



I. 0*2628 grm. gave 0*765 carbonic acid and 0*3094 water. 



II. 0*2638 grm. gave 0' 7695 carbonic acid and 0*3105 water, 

 giving in 100 parts — 



i. ir. 



Carbon . . 79*38 79*55 



Hydrogen . 13*08 13*08 



Oxygen . . 7*54 7*37 



100*00 100*00- 



To obtain these numbers the action must be long continued. 

 They correspond to the formula of the aether, 



C 58 H 58 O4 = C 54 H 53 °3 + C 4 H 5 O. 



Chlor-Cerotic Acid. 



Cerotic acid is readily acted on by chlorine if melted in that 

 gas. Hydrochloric acid is formed, and a substitution of chlo- 

 rine for hydrogen in the substance takes place. The following 

 substance was made by passing a current of chlorine over the 

 acid, melted in a small flask in a water-bath. The action 

 must be continued for several clays. I considered the action 

 as terminated when no more vapour of hydrochloric acid could 

 be perceived. The substance had now undergone a remark- 

 able transformation in appearance, a transformation similar to 

 which may be effected in all the wax substances with which I 

 have experimented. 



It was perfectly transparent, slightly yellow, and of the 

 consistency of a very thick gum, more than viscid, and yet 

 capable of being drawn out in threads. 



I. 0382 grm. of this substance gave 0-5581 carbonic acid 

 and 0*1752 water. 



II. 0*401 grm. of this substance gave 0*5848 carbonic acid 

 and 0*184 water. 



These analyses give in 100 parts — 



Carbon 39*82 39*77 



Hydrogen 5*10 5 09 



Chlorine and oxygen . . 55*08 55*14 



100*00 100*00 



