438 THE CHEMICAL EXAMINATION' OF MACROZAMIA SPIRALIS, 



The titrated sodium salt in alcoholic solution was then precipitated by baryta, 

 and the barium compound convei'ted into sulphate. 



0.0383 gm. Ba salt yielded 0.0162 gm. BaSO^. 

 e(|uivalent to BaS04 42.3 % 

 Barium laurate requires 43.5 % 

 The substance was therefore lauric acid, ('12 H24 O2 



The aqueous distillate, from which the above solid lauric acid had to be 

 filtered, was treated by shaking out with etlier; but nothing was removed in solu- 

 tion except a trace of an acid too small to identify. The acjueous distillate was 

 titrated with decinormal barium hydroxide, and required 42 ccs. The solution 

 was evaporated to dryness and weighed. During the lieating the strong odour of 

 acetic acid was detected. 



0.3973 gm. Ba salt yielded 0.3(571 gm. BaS04=92.4% 

 Barium acetate requires „ 01.3 



The substance is therefore acetic acid, C2H4O2. 



The acid liquid remaining in the distillation fla.sk was shaken out with petra- 

 leum spirit. This removed a dark coloured solid nuiss which weighed 3 gms., and 

 consisted of the higher fatty acids including stearic and oleic acids; they were 

 not further examined. 



The same acid liquid after treatment with petroleum spirit was agitated with 

 ether. This solvent removed about 1 gm. of solid substance in solution, which 

 eousisted of resins and resin acids. 



ii. The ether ea-tract of the h'esiitn: — 'I'lie ether extract weigliing 38 gins. 

 ■was examined in the following manner. 



A portion of the extract was dissolved in alcohol and poured into a large 

 volume of water, when a dark green insoluble mass separated and was deposited. 

 The a(|ueous portion was a pale green colloidal solution wliich did not settle. The 

 resinous contents could not be induced to separate either by spinning in a high- 

 speed centrifuge, filtering by the suction pump, allowing to .stand several weeks, 

 or by addition of such reagents as sodium citrate, magnesium sulphate, ether or 

 alcohol. When agitated, however, with a little dilute sulphuric acid, instant 

 separation took place, light green resins were deposited, which were filtered off 

 from a clear a(|ueous fluid, and washed with water till acid-free. 



The total deposited resins were dried and extracted with prepared sawdust in 

 a Soxlilet extractor (1) with chloroform, (2) with alcohol. From each of these 

 exti-acts the solvent was removed by distillation, dried and weighed. 

 27 gms. soluble in chloroform. 



5 gms. insoluble in chloroform, soluble in alcohol. 



6 gms insoluble in chloroform, insoluble in alcohol. 



Each of tlu'se i)ortions was examined separately in great detail. Their solutions 

 in ether were agitated with sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, and water. Each 

 solution was carefully purified by animal charcoal and evaporated spontaneously, 

 but in no case could any crystalline substance be isolated. Amorphous residues 

 were obtained in all cases. 



The jjortion insoluble in chloroform but solul)Ie in alcohol was a black bi'ittle resin- 

 ous substance; when its alcoholic solution was poured into water it assumed .1 

 brilliant pale g-reen and bright blue fluorescence. 



iii. The chlorofdrm and iv. tlie alcohol extracts of the oriyiiial renin. — Tliese, 

 following the petroleum spirit and ether extractions, were treated in the same 

 manner as the ether suhible portion, l)ut only aiii()ri)1ious resins wei-c obtained. 



