ACID AND THE PRODUCTS OF ITS DISTILLATION. 6] 
The whole process is represented in the foregoing, as analogy 
with similar methods of decomposition appears to indicate. The 
results found are not at variance with the idea that a margarone, 
that is, Mg — C O%, a body analogous to acetone, is formed ; 
since, however, margarone enters into no known compounds, 
and as owing to the decomposition which it undergoes by di- 
stillation the determination of the specific gravity of its vapour 
cannot be effected, there is no positive proof of its constitu- 
tion, nor is there any reason to prevent a different view being 
taken, especially if such be rendered probable by future con- 
siderations. 
From the composition of the body termed margarone, we 
know with certainty that it contains less oxygen than the acid 
from which it is derived; but, if we consider the relation of the 
carbon to the hydrogen alone, we observe no difference in the 
relative proportions in which both these are found in the acid. 
We are acquainted with analogies also of other kinds, which 
justify us in comparing this manner of decomposition with 
others. 
Analysis gives us only numerical results, the relative propor- 
tion by weight of the constituents of a body, which are valuable 
in science only inasmuch as by this means an idea can be ex- 
pressed. 
Stearic acid contains the same number of equivalents of oxy- 
gen as the hypo-sulphuric acid; we know that this latter when 
submitted to a high temperature is decomposed, the oxygen 
being divided with the radical, and we obtain as the products of 
the decomposition a lower and a higher oxide. The hypo-sul- 
phurous acid behaves itself in a similar manner. 
We see then that by the decomposition of stearic acid by the 
aid of heat, a body (margaric acid) is formed, which, for equal 
weights, contains more oxygen; we know, therefore, that the 
oxygen of the stearic acid has been divided, and that in conse- 
quence of this division a lower oxide of the same radical may 
have been formed. 
From the results recorded we infer that stearic and margaric 
acids contain equal proportions of carbon and hydrogen, in such 
a manner that the latter may be represented by (C%* H%*) + O%, 
and the former by 2 (C** H%’) + O°. In these formule we can- 
not but recognize the existence of two oxides of the same radi- 
