MM. Redtenbacher, Varrentrapp, Mayer ajid Bromeis. 115 



olive oil, is identical in constitution, being when hydrated ex- 

 pressed by C34 H34 04,or when anhydrous, by €34 H33 O3. 



The margaric jEther consists of an atom of margaric acid 

 and one of tether, C34 Hgg O3 + C4 H5 O. 



Varrentrapp analysed the margarone which is produced 

 when margaric acid is distilled with lime. Its formula is 

 C33 H33 O, or it is formed by the loss of the elements of one 

 atom of carbonic acid. 



From these results, however, it follows equally, as from the 

 older, that the carbon and hydrogen is the same in the stearic 

 and the margaric acids, which differ only in the proDortionof 

 oxygen, 



1 equivalent of Stearic acid = Cgg H^g O5 



2 equivalents of Margaric acid = Cgg Hgg Og 



and hence Berzelius's idea is still quite true, that if we ex- 

 press C34 H33 by R, then 



Margaric acid = R +O3, like sulphuric acid S + O3 

 Stearic acid = Rg + O5 , like hyposulphuric acid S2+ O5. 

 But it still remains to be shown how destructive distillation, 

 which is in general not an oxidating process, changes both the 

 stearic and oleic acids into margaric acid. This has been 

 explained by Redtenbacher. Besides margaric acid there 

 are produced a small quantity of water and of carbonic acid, 

 and margarone and a liquid polymeric with olefiant gas in 

 large proportion, so that the process consists in four equiva- 

 lents of stearic acid producing 



6 equiv. of hydrated margaric acid = C^^^ U^^ O^^ 



1 • water = HO 



A margarone = C33 H33 O 



1 carbonic acid .... C 0„ 



Polymeric carburetted hydrogen C34 H. 



^34 



C68Hg8 0,X4 =C,,,H,,,0,8 

 The action of nitric acid on stearic acid has been accurately 

 studied by Bromeis, and has produced extremelv interestino- 

 results. In the first instance an equivalent of anhydrous 

 stearic acid is converted into two equivalents of anhydrous 

 margaric acid, by the absorption of an equivalent of oxygen, 

 Cgs Hgg O5, and O producing twice C34 H33 O3. 



When the action of the nitric acid is continued, suberic 

 acid is produced in large quantity, the formula of it beine 

 C8Hg03 + Aq. ^ 



The mother liquors from which the suberic acid had se- 

 parated contains a large quantity of succinic acid, the formula 

 ot which IS, in the crystallized Ibrm, C4 H3 O4. 



I 2 



