New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 359 



The precipitate was filtered off and washed several times in absolute 

 methyl alcohol and the filtrate several times evaporated in vacuum 

 to dryness under addition of methyl alcohol for the removal of the 

 excess of methyl iodide. The residue was dissolved in methyl 

 alcohol and evaporated to dryness in vacuum over sulphuric acid. 

 The substance was then obtained as a light-yellow-colored, thick 

 syrup of faint, aromatic odor. It was strongly acid in reaction 

 and of sharp acid taste. For analysis it was dried in vacuum at 

 105° over phosphorus pentoxide. It then turned very dark in color. 



0.1985 gram subst. gave 0.0608 gram H 2 and 0.1016 gram C0 2 . 

 Found: C = 13.95; H = 3.42 per ct. 



This agrees with a dimethyl ester of phytic acid. 



For C 6 H 16 2 4P6(CH 3 ) 2 = 688. 

 Calculated: C = 13.95; H = 3.19 per ct. 



THE WATER-INSOLUBLE SUBSTANCE WHICH SEPARATES FROM 

 PHYTIC ACID AFTER DRYING. 



As has been mentioned earlier, phytic acid, which has been dried 

 to constant weight in vacuum over phosphorus pentoxide, is not 

 completely soluble in water. We have observed this insoluble 

 substance in many instances after drying phytic acid at 60°, at 78° 

 and at 105°. It always separates, on adding water to the dry sub- 

 stance, in. thin gelatinous plates. It appears to be practically 

 insoluble in hot or cold water. Continued boiling in acidulated 

 water is necessary to dissolve it. It is also insoluble in alcohol 

 and ether. 



In order to obtain some knowledge of the composition of this 

 insoluble substance 2.7 grams of phytic acid, containing about 

 12 per ct. of moisture, were dried to constant weight at 105° in 

 vacuum over phosphorus pentoxide. After treating with water 

 the insoluble portion was filtered, washed thoroughly in water and 

 finally in alcohol and ether and dried in vacuum over sulphuric 

 acid. It was then obtained as a dirty gray powder which weighed 

 0.23 gram. It was non-hygroscopic. For analysis it was dried 

 at 105° in vacuum over phosphorus pentoxide at which no change 

 in color was noticeable. The substance was burned with copper 

 oxide and the phosphorus determined in the ash. 



0.2118 gram dry subst. gave 0.0569 gram H 2 and 0.1357 gram 

 C0 2 and 0.1822 gram Mg 2 P 2 7 . 



Found: C = 17.47; H = 3.00; P = 23.98 per ct. 



The quantity of the substance obtained was so small that it was 

 only sufficient for one analysis. Of course, we are unable to state 



