OP ARTS AND SCIENCES. 325 



added to an excess of a concentrated alcoholic solution of sodic hydrate, 

 care being taken to avoid any great elevation of temperature. When 

 the action was completed the sparingly soluble sodium salt was re- 

 moved by filtration and dried. The alcoholic filtrate contained small 

 quantities of this sodium salt in solution, and contained further a small 

 amount of some volatile furfuran compouud. We converted the 

 excess of sodic hydrate into carbonate with carbonic dioxide, removed 

 the sodic carbonate by filtration, and distilled the alcoholic filtrate. 

 The distillate when mixed with water threw down a minute quantity 

 of a colorless oil of peculiar aromatic odor, which we have as yet 

 been unable to identify through lack of material. The small amount 

 of sodium salt obtained from the alcoholic mother liquors was then 

 added to the main portion. The sodium salt when dissolved in water 

 and acidified with hydrochloric acid then yielded the crude 8 chlorpyro- 

 mucic acid, which not infrequently needed no other purification than 

 recrystallization from benzol. If, however, the treatment with chlorine 

 had been too long continued, or the action had taken place at too low 

 a temperature, the product contained dichlorpyromucic and trichlorpy- 

 romucic acids which could not be removed by simple recrystallization. 

 Whenever the crude acid failed on trial to crystallize from hot water 

 in shining irregular plates, it was necessary to resort to chemical 

 means for its purification. The acid was suspended in twenty times 

 its weight of cold water, ammonia added in slight excess, and then 

 baric chloride in quantity sufficient to precipitate the sparingly soluble 

 barium salts of the admixed acids. After the separation of these salts 

 is complete, the filtered solution gives on acidification an acid which 

 crystallizes from water in leafy plates, and which may further be puri- 

 fied by recrystallization from benzol. The yield of chlorpyromucic 

 acid thus obtained amounts to about 40 per cent of the weight of ether 

 taken, or 38 per cent of the theoretical amount. 



I. 0.2761 grm. substance gave 0.4145 grm. COj and 0.0494 grm. H^^O. 

 II. 0.2667 grm. substance gave 0.2642 grm. AgCl. 

 III. 0.2990 grm. substance gave 0.2950 grm. AgCl. 



I. 



III. 



24.39 



The 8 chlorpyromucic acid is readily soluble in hot water, sparingly 

 in cold water, and crystallizes in large irregular leafy plates, which 



