414 MR HENRY HOW ON MECONIC ACID, 
Calculation. 



a 
If Il. 
Carbon, . : 51°33 51°35 51°56 Cre lee 
Hydrogen, ‘ 4:81 4:84 4:68 La 12 
Oxygen, : oe ate 43°76 Orn Wil? 
100-00 100-00 100-00 256 
These numbers lead to the formula, 
HO, 2 0,H,0, C,, HO,,. 
Having thus far succeeded in replacing one and two of the atoms of basic water 
of meconic acid by corresponding equivalents of ether, I was in hopes of being 
able to go still further and obtain a neutral compound. For this purpose I dis- 
tilled some meconic acid with absolute alcohol and strong sulphuric acid. By 
application of a gentle heat, tranquil ebullition was commenced and sustained. 
The distillate consisted of alcohol and ether, and the contents of the retort gra- 
dually acquired a syrupy consistence ; at this period they were poured into a 
comparatively large quantity of cold water; in a short time a crystalline precipi- 
tate of a delicate rose-pink colour was formed, which gradually increased in quan- 
tity. On recrystallisation from water it was obtained in colourless flattened 
prisms, which gave, on analysis, the following numbers :— 
4-860 grains, dried at 212°, gave 
9-128 .., carbonic acid, and 
27135 ... water. 
which, when calculated for per-centages, are equal to 
Carbon, . : : 51-22 
Hydrogen, . 2 - 4:88 
and shew the substance to be identical with that obtained in the former process. 
This method obviously furnishes a ready source of the pure ether. I may men- 
tion, that I have not been able to produce it this way by employing rectified spirit 
in place of absolute alcohol. 
Biethylomeconic acid, in its pure state, as crystallised from water, occurs in 
the form of long, flattened, colourless, prisms; it fuses under boiling water before 
dissolving. It is very soluble in alcohol. In the dry state it fuses at about 250° 
Fahr. to a yellowish transparent liquid. 
Its aqueous solution readily coagulates the white of eggs, has an acid reaction, 
and decomposes carbonates with effervescence. It imparts to persalts of iron a 
red colour. 
As the above formula indicates, it is a monobasic acid ; I add the analysis of 
two salts which shew this fact. 
When subjected to the action of ammonia in the cold, biethylomeconic acid 
does not undergo decomposition ; the substances simply enter into combination. 
6 
Ww 
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