382 Miscellanies. 
chlorid of calcium. The ether thus purified, is very fluid, similarto . 
the essential oil of mustard. It is colorless, has an extremely strong 
odor of wine, which when respired is almost intoxicating. Its taste 
is very strong and disagreeable. It dissolves readily in ether and al- 
cohol, even when the latter is quite dilute; yet it is not sensibly so- 
luble in water. Its density is 0.862 and it is but slightly volatile. It 
boils between 225° and 230° C, 
In three analyses, MM. Liebig and Pelouze obtained the follow- 
ing results,— 
Carbon wc =. 74.815 72.50 72.02 
Hydrogen, . - 11.844 11.86 12.05 
Oxygen, ‘ . 16.341 15.64 15.93 
which correspond very nearly with the formula C'* H?*O3, The 
' cenanthic ether is readily decomposed by the caustic alkalies. With 
potassa, it affords a very soluble compound, consisting of cenanthic 
acid and potassa. When this salt is decomposed by sulphuric acid, 
the cenanthic acid forms an oily bed on the surface of the liquid. 
(Enanthic acid.—This acid presents a butter-like consistence at a 
temperature of 13.2 C. and is of a white color; at a higher temper- 
ature it melts and forms a colorless, inodorous oil, which reddens 
turnsol and unites readily with the caustic alkalies and alkaline car- 
bonates. The cenanthate of potash, is a pasty mass composed of 
extremely fine fibres, which present a silky lustre after desiccation. 
From the composition of the cenanthates of lead and silver, the au- 
thors infer that 2 atoms of base saturate 3 of acid. 
In three analyses, MM. L. and P. obtained for the hydrated acid ; 
Carbon, A - 69,28 69.74 68.59 
Hydrogen, . ite Se _ 11.56 
Oxygen, , ao (1948, “a 19.85 
which lead to the formula, C'* H?*O*. The anhydrous acid af- 
forded carbon 74.32, hydrogen 12.2, oxygen 13.58, which corres- 
ponds with the formula C't H?*O?, It may hence be inferred that 
cenanthic ether is composed of cenanthic acid united to common 
ether, as is represented in the formula C'+ H2*O02+C+H'°O, 
in the construction of which and also in the preceding sian 
Berzelius’s atomic weights have been used. 
8. Essential oil of potatoes, by M. Aven Cahours, (L'Tnstitut, 
No. 199.)—According to Dumas, the essential oil of potatoes is rep- 
resented by the formula, C2° H?4 O02. M. Cahours infers that this 
