cuMix. 143 



cuminic acid, 0^qH^„0^. By the action of the air or water it is 

 also slowly oxidised into the same product. 



Cuminol can be isolated from Cumin oil by fractional distillation. 

 The retort containing the crude oil is placed in an oil bath heated 

 to 200^ C, and that temperature maintained constant until nothing 

 more passes over. The receiver is then changed, the heat increased 

 and the residue in the retort distilled rapidly in a current of 

 carbonic anhydride, the distillate being collected in a flask provided 

 with a good stopper. Another way is to agitate the crude oil with 

 a moderately concentrated solution of potassium or sodium 

 bisulphite. This salt combines with the cuminol only, producing 

 a crystalline compound from which the cuminol can be separated 

 by heating it with a little potash. 



Another authority* states its preparation from Eoman Cumin 

 oil by agitating the portion which boils above 190^ C, with a 

 saturated solution of sodium bisulphite, washing the granular 

 crystalline precipitate w^hich has separated after 24 hours with 

 ether, and decomposing it by distillation with sodium carbonate 

 solution. It has been separated from the seeds of the " Water 

 Hemlock" by a similar process.fj Cuminol boils at 236^-5 C. Its 

 sp. gr. is 0-9727 at 13°'4 C. Its mean composition on analysis is 

 80-89 per cent. C ; 8-85 per cent. H; and 10-66 per cent. 0. The 

 formula C^oHj^O requiring 81-08 C, 8-11 H, and 10-81 0. It 

 is now usually expressed as follows : — (C Hg)., C H, Cg H^, C H 0. 



Cymyl alcohol, or Cumin alcohol (C 113)2 C H, Cg H^, C Hg H, 

 was first obtained by Kraut§ by the action of alcoholic potash on 

 cuminol (cuminaldehyde). It is an oily, faintly aromatic smelling 

 liquid, of burning taste, and boihng at 246^^-6 C. Sp. gr. 0-9775 at 

 15^ C. 



Cymyl chloride, (CHg)^ C H, C^ H,, CH„ CI, is formed by the 

 action of hydrochloric acid on cymyl alcohol, and is a liquid which 

 boils at 230° C. II 



Cymyl acetate, C^H- C^ H^ C H, C, H3 0, is prepared by 

 heating the impure Cymyl chloride with potassium acetate. It is 



* Ann. Chem. Pharm., xcii. p. 66. 



t Ibid, cviii., p. 386, and xciv., p. 317; Ber. Deutsch. Chem., Ges., x., p. 150. 

 X The yield of essential oil from the seeds of AVater Hemlock (Cicuta 

 vlrosa) is about 1 J per cent. 



§ Ann. Chem. Pharm., xcii., p. 66 ; cxcii,, p. 224. 

 li Gaz. Chim. Ital., ix., p. 307. 



