Dr. G. Bird o?i the Ac/ion of Nitric Acid on Alcohol, ^2^ 



nature of the substance concerned in these phasnomenu tJjc 

 following ex}">eri«i-ents were performed. 



A. About a pint of the acid yellow fluid remaining after 

 making sp. aeth. nit. was submitted to distillation in a glass 

 letort, the temperature applietl being just sufficient to keep 

 up gentle ebullition : the first few ounces of fluid that distilled 

 over possessed the flavour and odour of hyponitrous aether, 

 and underwent no change of colour by the addition of a so- 

 lution of potass: after these had passec! over and the receiver 

 been changed, distillation was carried on until orange- colour- 

 ed fumes appeared in the retort; the fluid collected in the re- 

 ceiver was then removed : its specific gravity was O'DSO : it 

 reddened litmus paper, possessed an odour of ;ether mixed 

 with one so irritating that it produced smarting of the nostrils 

 and eyes with copious lacrymation ; its flavour was at first 

 grateful, rapidly however becoming acrid like cayenne pepper, 

 leaving a burning sensation in the mouth and fauces. 



B. To this distilled fluid a solution of pure potass, of spec, 

 gr. I'Oe, was added ; the mixture instantly assumed a fine 

 orange colour, which on the application of a gentle heat 

 deepened in tint, a strong penetrating " soapy" odour being 

 evolved. 



C. The excess of acid in the distilled fluid was next neu- 

 tralized with ammonia, and a solution of nitrate of silver 

 added ; a copious white precipitate occurred, which on being 

 wai'med over a spirit lamp became dark and converted into 

 reduced silver, giving the fluid a bluish tint when viewed bv 

 transmitted light. 



D. From these experiments I at first suspected the pre- 

 sence of formic aci<l, as this (as is well known) readily reduces 

 silver-salts, although the peculiar action of potass is by no 

 means reconcileable with the known properties of that acid. 

 To ascertain whether this acid was really present I neutral- 

 ized exactly some of the distilled fluid with a weak solution 

 of potass and evaporated it over a vapour-bath to dryness; a 

 nearly l)lack residue, containing a few acicular crystals, re- 

 suited. This was placed in a retort mixed with sulphuric acid, 

 and distilled, but not a trace of either formic or acetic acid 

 could be detected in the distilled fluid, which appeared to con- 

 tain a small (juantity of nitric acid. It hence appeared evident, 

 that formic acid could not be tlie reducing agent in Exp. C, 

 whilst from this circumstance, from the action of potass, 

 and the peculiar odour, I was led to suspect the presence of 

 4ildehijd. 



E. .Some of the distilled fluid was neutralized with potass 

 and warmed; when it luid assumed the orange-brown tint it 



