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JL,I. Ohscrvations on some of the Products ohiahied In/ the 

 Ileaction of Nitric Acid on Alcohol. By Golding Bum, 

 M.D., F.L.S., G.S., 6iC, Lecturer on Natural Philosophij at 

 Guj/'s HospitaL^' 



Tj^EW subjects connected with organic chemistry have en- 

 gaged more the attention of chemists than the action 

 of nitric acid on al'cohoi, from the discovery of hy[5onitrous 

 aether by Navier, up to the present moment. The composi- 

 tion of what has been long termed sweet spirits of nitre, is 

 now well determined, and no doubt exists of its being a com- 

 bination of hyponitrous acid with sether (I C 5 H I 0+ N 3 O). 

 Some of the j)roducts formed simultaneously with this aether 

 have been less completely and satisfactorily understood ; che- 

 mists have however for the most part agreed in .stating malicy 

 oxalic, acetic, and carbonic acids to be among the new-formed 

 products, together with a substance mentioned by Thenard 

 as '"'■ Ires facile a charbonner" Taking advantage of the re- 

 sidue left in the retort after the preparation of sp. asth. ni- 

 trici on the large scale, I submitted it to examination and 

 obtained some uiteresting and unexpected results. In the 

 pharmaceutical laboratory of Guy's Hospital, this tether is 

 prepared by distilling in a sand-heat two gallons of alcohol 

 of about '850, and 24 ounces of nitric acid of 1'50, the opera- 

 tion being stopped when about 3^ pints of fluid are left in the 

 retort. This fluid is straw-coloured, varying in specific gra- 

 vity from 1-03 to 1*06, strongly acid, and possessing the agree- 

 able odour of hyponitrous aether. "When carefully neutralized 

 by a solution of potass it assumed a rich orange-brown tint, 

 and became slightly turbid ; the fluid thus saturated precipi- 

 tated acetate of lead most copiously, but did not affect the lim- 

 pidity of lime-water or a solution of chloride of calcium, and 

 hence did not contain oxalic acid, although this substance is 

 generally stated to be present in the residue of the distilla- 

 tion. The most remarkable pluenomenon, however, occurred 

 when some of this carefully neutralized fluid was exposed to 

 lieat in a porcelain bason : as soon as it became warm the co- 

 lour deepened in tint, in a short time becoming of a rich cho- 

 colate brown ; a most disagreeable and penetrating odour, 

 something like that of boiling soap, being evolved : in this ex- 

 })eriment the temperature of the fluid did not exceed 160° 

 Fahr., tiie change commencing at 115° Fahr., and went on 

 briskly at 120° Fahr. For the purpose of determining the 



* Read liefore the Chemical SiTtion of the British Association, nt New- 

 caslle-on-'l'yiie, August 18."5.S: ami coiimiimic-at(!il liy the Author. 



