A SoutJt Australian Elaterite. 137 



soluble constituent of Coorongite is (CjoHigO)!,; in benzene 

 solution. 



It is well known, however, that organic oxygen dei'ivatives of 

 the alcohol and acid kind are given to association in benzene 

 solution, though they have simple molecules in other solvents, 

 and that the molecular weight of a substance in benzene solution 

 is often twice as great as the normal. 



Observations were therefore made on the boiling point of an 

 ether solution of the substance, using ether purified by distilla- 

 tion from sodium immediately before use. 



The whole of the ether (about a litre) distilled at 34.2°, but 

 the first and last portions were rejected. 



The boiling point was raised .100° by the addition of 1.370 

 grms. of the material to 24.1 grms. of the ether, which by the 

 formula 



M = K ^^ 

 A L 



where K for ether = 2100, S and A have values given above and 



L = 23.9 (allowing for vapour, etc.), gives the approximate 



value 1204 for the molecular weight, which is within the error 



of experiment, half the value obtained in benzene solution. In 



these experiments, Beckmann's freezing point and boiling point 



apparatus were used with thermometers divided into hundredths 



of one degree C and capable of being read by eye to .002°. 



The results oljtained indicate that the soluble constituent of 

 Ooorongite is (CioHjsO)^; and that x = ^ in etheral solution and 

 16 in benzene solution ; .v may, of course, have other values 

 under other conditions. 



Only an incomplete examination of the chemical properties of 

 this substance has been made as yet. It is unacted on by acids 

 except strong H.JSO4, which chars it. 



It comliines with bromine, forming a black, viscous, sticky, 

 semisolid, readily soluble in carbon bisulphide and ether, but 

 which has not yet been investigated. 



It oxidises readily, as will be shown later. Attempts to 

 saponify it led to negative results, though it is stated by Jackson 

 to be saponitiable. 



The Insoluble Constituent. — This was rubbed to a coarse 

 powder during the extraction and resembled brown cork filings 



