Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 443 
ON SUBERIC ACID AND ITS COMBINATIONS. 
Examination of Cork.—M. Chevreul has given the name of suberine 
to cork freed from those substances which can be extracted from it 
by digestion in water, alcohol, and ether. 
‘Bther digested upon cork acquires a pale yellow colour; this solu- 
tion affords by evaporation a substance which is deposited in small 
acicular crystals. This substance resembles a resin, and M. Boussin- 
gault has called it resin of cork. Nitric acid converts it into oxalic 
acid and a substance resembling wax, which M. Chevreul has deno- 
minated cerine. 
Resin of cork contains 
Carbon ...... 0°824 = 32 eqs. 
Hydrogen .... O-111 = 26 eqs. 
Oxygen...... 0°065 
Suberine partially dissolves in the alkalies ; and the alkaline solu- 
tion affords a brown precipitate on the addition of an acid. The pre- 
cipitate is converted into suberic acid by treating it with nitric acid. 
That part of the suberine which does not dissolve in the alkalies, 
consists of lignin and a little resin. 
It appears most probable that it is the principle soluble in the al- 
kalies, which in the cork gives rise to the production of suberic acid : 
two facts tend to confirm this opinion, one that M. Chevreul has dis- 
covered, that the epidermis of the birch produces a large quantity of 
suberic acid; and the other, M. John has found that this epidermis 
is almost entirely soluble in solution of potash. 
The results of the analysis of suberic acid by M. Boussingault indi- 
cate nearly the same composition as already given by M. Bussy, viz. 
Anhydrous acid. Hydrated acid. 
Carbon .... 0°612 = 16 eqs. Carbon .... 0-557 = 16 eqs. 
Hydrogen .. 0:076 = 12 eqs, Hydrogen... 0°079 = 14 eqs. 
Oxygen.... 0°304 = 3 eqs. Oxygen.... 0°364= 4 eqs. 
Suberic ether may be prepared by heating a mixture of 4 parts of 
alcohol, 1 part of muriatic acid, and 2 parts of suberic acid. It is 
rather heavier than water, of a faint smell, and disagreeable taste. It 
is colourless, oleaginous, and boils at 450° Fahr. Its composition is 
Carbon ...... 0°627 = 24 eqs. 
Hydrogen.... 0:096 = 22 egs. 
Oxygen .... 0276 = 4 eqs. 
But C* H® O#= CH’ O3 + C’ H' + H2O. Thus suberic 
ether is subject to the general law which governs the composition 
of zthers of the same kind. 
By distilling suberic acid and lime at a moderate temperature, 
M. Boussingault has obtained, amongst other products, a volatile oil, 
which possesses the general properties of essential oils. Its odour is 
powerful and aromatic. When separated from the hydrocarburets 
with which it is mixed, it boils at 276°8° Fahr. ; it does not become 
solid at 18° Fahr., and affords by analysis, 
Carbon...... 0:766 = 14 eqs. 
Hydrogen.... 0°108 = 14 eqs. 
Oxygen...... 0126 = 1 eq. 
