OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 367 



III. 0.2005 grrn. substance recrystallized from benzol gave 0.2998 grm. 



AgBr. 



IV. 0.2003 grm. substance recrystallized from benzol gave 0.2993 grm. 



AgBr. 



Calculated for 



I. 



63.78 



Bromfurfurdibrompropionic acid crystallizes in small flat oblique 

 prisms, which are sparingly soluble in cold benzol or carbonic disul- 

 phide, more readily in hot. It is readily soluble in alcohol or ether, 

 insoluble in water, although slowly decomposed by it. On heating, 

 the acid is gradually decomposed, with the evolution of hydrobromic 

 acid and slight carbonization. As might be expected, we found it im- 

 possible to prepare salts, or even ethers, of the acid. 



The action of cold water upon the acid was so well marked, that we 

 proceeded to determine the products formed. When bromfurfurdi- 

 brompropionic acid is suspended in water, carbonic dioxide soon 

 begins to escape, and after long standing the crystalline solid is com- 

 pletely converted into a colorless oil. The aqueous solution then 

 contains hydrobromic acid in abundance. As the decomposition was 

 greatly facilitated by gentle heat, we usually have allowed the reaction 

 to proceed at about 40°. When the decomposition was complete, we 

 distilled with steam, and dried the heavy colorless oil thus obtained 

 with calcic chloride. On distilllation under diminished pressure, we 

 found that this oil began to boil at 108° under a pressure of 14 mm., 

 and that the thermometer gradually rose to 112° the pressure remain- 

 ing constant. The distillate was at first nearly colorless, and of 

 high refractive power, but on standing it quite rapidly became dark- 

 colored. Analyses of the freshly distilled substance showed it to be a 

 bromfurfurbromethylen. 



I. 0.3173 grm. substancegave0.3350grm.CO2 and 0.0476 grm. H2O. 

 II. 0.1928 grm. substance gave 0.2883 grm. AgBr. 

 III. 0.2045 grm. substance gave 0.3056 grm. AgBr. 



III. 



63.60 



