the Oils ofElemi ajid Olibanum, 1 85 



turpentine. It does not dissolve in water. It is very little so- 

 luble in weak spirits, but it dissolves very rapidly in alcohol 

 and aether. Potassium remains unaltered in it, but solid potash, 

 with the assistance of heat, converts it into a brown resin. 

 Iodine acts on it with energy ; considerable heat is evolved ; 

 part of the iodine is driven off into vapour, and the oil is con- 

 verted into a thick red magma. Elemi oil absorbs muriatic acid 

 gas very readily, and becomes of a dark-brown colour, but I 

 did not succeed in obtaining an artificial camphor. Nitric acid 

 in the cold Cjuickiy changes it to a brownish yellow ; when 

 assisted by heat it explodes, evolving deutoxide of azote, 

 and converting the oil into a resinous matter. Sulphuric acid 

 in the cold gives it a fine red colour, but when heated it 

 chars it. 



The following are the results of its analysis : 



I. O'^SOS gave r369 carbonic acid, and 0*4.53 water. 



II. 0"197 gave 0*625 carbonic acid, and 0'208 water. 



Found. Calculated. 

 I. II. 



Carbon 87-93 87-72 88*46 = 5 at. 



Hydrogen... 11-69 11*73 11*54 = 8 — 



99*62 99*45 lOO'OO 



From this it is evident, that elemi oil has a similar constitu- 

 tion with oil of turpentine, oil of lemons, copaiba balsam oil, 

 and several others, too numerous to be mentioned. 



Oil of Olibanum. — Olibanum, the frankincense of the an- 

 cients, yields an oil which is prepared in the same way as 

 that of elemi. The quantity I could obtain was 4 per cent, 

 of the resin employed ; it is a transparent, colourless and very 

 limpid oil. Its smell resembles that of oil of turpentine, but it is 

 much more agreeable. Its specific,"gravity is 0-886 at + 24° C, 

 and its boiling point is 162°. It burns with a strong bright 

 flame, and emits much smoke. The action of reagents upon 

 it is almost identical with that of the oil of elemi, so that it is 

 unnecessary to enter into details. The following are the re- 

 sults of its analysis: 



I. 0-3255 gave 1-0015 carbonic acid, and 0-330 water. 



II. 0-3465 gave 1-061 carbonic acid, and 0-351 water, 



III. 0*302 gave 0-931 carbonic acid, and 0-307 water. 



100-00 100-00 100*00 100*00 



