136 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 



Thus the sample yielded nearly 24 per cent, of the soluble 

 constituent. As the residue was found to contain from 30 to 40 

 per cent, of sand and other mineral matter, the soluble consti- 

 tuent formed about one-third, and the insoluble constituent about 

 two-thirds of the organic material. The results of the later 

 extractions show that separation was complete. 



The Soluble Constituent. — This is a clear, yellow, translucent, 

 wax-like solid. Softens enough to flow if kept at 35°, and is 

 <iuite fluid at 42^ Heated in an oil bath it decomposed above 

 225°, yielding a little black distillate and a tar-like solid residue. 



It dissolves readily, and in all proportions, in benzene, ether, 

 toluene, chloroform, and carbon bisulphide, and is insoluble in 

 water, methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol. 



The composition was obtained by combustion with cupric oxide 

 in a current of oxygen. The results agree closely with the 

 figures calculated for the formula CjoH^gO. 



T IT TTi -Kt Calculated 



^- "• "^- ^«^"- for CioHisO 



Carbon - - - 77.86 77.94 77.92 77.91 77.92 

 Hydrogen - - - 11.97 11.87 11.93 11.92 11.69 



Oxygen (by difference) - 10.17 10.19 10.15 10.17 10.39 



As the molecular weight could not be got by vapour density 

 measurement, recourse was had to the freezing point method, 

 using benzene as solvent. The benzene used was specially 

 purified and had the freezing point 5.33'^ cor. Ice and water 

 were used for freezing and five observations were made at each 

 temperature. The constant K for the benzene was determined 

 by e.xperiment with napthalene, which gave a value of 5390. 



1.080 grms. of the substance dissolved in 30.0 grms. benzene 

 lowered the freezing point .080°. 



Using the formula 



M = K — i- 

 A L 



whei-e M = molecular wt., K = a constant (5390 in this case) 



A = the depression produced, and L = weight of solvent, these 



figures indicate a molecular weight of 2425. The formula 



(C,oH|j,0)x requires a molecular weight of 154, or some multiple 



thereof ; and it would therefore appear that the value of x in 



benzene solution is 16 (M - 2464), or, in other words the 



