BY JAMES M. PETRIE. 853 



examined by the microscope, the crystal form was similar to that 

 of cane sugar. 



Molisch's reaction with sulphuric acid and </.-naphthol or 

 thymol gave no colour, and Fehling's solution was not reduced. 

 The compound is, therefore, not a sugar. 



(3) The melting-point, taste, and crystalline form are identical 

 with those of the hexahydric alcohol, dulcitol; the latter, how- 

 ever, yields mucic acid when oxidised with nitric acid, whereas 

 no mucic acid could be obtained from this substance. 



(4) By treatment of the solution with phenylhydrazin acetate, 

 no hydrazone or osazone could be obtained. 



Silver nitrate in ammoniacal solution gave no precipitate in 

 the cold; but, on warming, the solution slowly darkened with 

 precipitation of the silver. 



On boiling witli dilute acids and alkalies, and subsequently 

 recovering the compound, no apparent change in its properties 

 was noted. 



{h) Quantitative determinations. — The crystals, which had been 

 formed in dilute alcoholic solution, and dried in a desiccator at the 

 oi'dinary temperature, were heated at 110°C. for two hours, but 

 showed no decrease in weight, and then at 150°C. for 30 minutes, 

 with a similar result. The substance, therefore, contains no 

 water of crystallisation. 



The solubility showed that 1 gm. required l"9c.c. of water at 

 2rC., or 53%. 



(6) The melting-point, as carefully determined on a standard 

 Anschiitz thermometer wholly immersed, was 190°C. 



(7) Ultimate analysis of the substance yielded the following- 

 results : — 



0-1262gm. gave... 0-083 H.,0 and 0-1983 CO.. 



Equivalent to ... 7-3% H and 42-9% C. 



C-Hi^O,. requires 7-2% H and 43-3% C. 

 This formula, which conforms most closely to the figures ob- 

 tained foi' the substance, is possessed by the meth^d-hexoses, 

 simple glucosides, and certain derivatives of benzene. 



(8) A determination was made of the number of methoxy 



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