OP ARTS AND SCTENCES. 



189 



In order to compare these results more conveniently, we calculated 

 from them the corresponding molecular ratios. 



The following table contains the number of molecules of baric hy- 

 drate which we used in the various experiments for the decomposition 

 of one molecule of mucobromic acid, the number of molecules of baric 

 hydrate which actually entered into the reaction, and the fractions o.f 

 a molecule of bromacetylen, carbonic dioxide, and baric muconate 

 which were formed in each case. In accordance with the results 

 which we afterwards obtained, the muconate is here calculated as baric 

 malonate. 



These results were sufficient to show that, in the decomposition by 

 baric hydrate, we had to deal with at least two independent reactions ; 

 that one of these reactions led to the formation of carbonic dioxide 

 and bromacetylen, while the second had for its chief product the 

 sparingly soluble barium salt, — the baric muconate of Schmelz and 

 Beilstein. Moreover, it was evident that, in order to obtain the best 

 yield of the latter salt, a large excess of baric hydrate should be em- 

 ployed. 



