204' Notices of the Labours of Continental Chemists. 



replaced by two atoms of oxygen ; by the action of alkalies 

 chloracetic acid C"*HC1'0^ is decomposed into carbonic acid 

 and chloroform C- O^ + C" H CI'; acetic acid is decomposed 

 into C-^ O* + C- HS or C- O-* + C H' H. Alcohol may 

 therefore be considered as composed of two bodies represent- 

 ing carbonic acid, one the methylic aldehyd, the other marsh 

 gas, C^ H' O^ = C- H' + C- H^ O- =* C^ O' + C^ O^ In 

 the usual method of forming acetic acid C- H- O'- loses H-, 

 and takes up O', there then remains C' O- O" + C* H* 

 = C^ H* O^ or acetic acid. By the action of alkalies H* is 

 given off; the water of the hydrated alkali is decomposed, 

 H- is developed and O- assimilated. If the hydruret of po- 

 tassium be treated with dilute sulphuric acid, the hydrogen of 

 the hydruret is developed, and also that of an atom of water, 

 the oxygen of which combines with the potassium to form po- 

 tassa. So it is with the body C- H- 0-, C= H- O"- - H- + O^ 

 = C-0+, we then have C- O* + C-H* = acetic acid, as before. 

 With pyroxylic spirit it is the same ; two atoms of water 

 are decomposed, C- H^ O^ — H^ + O- (from H-0-) gives 

 C- H- O^ + H*. In the residue, however, is found a large 

 quantity of oxalic acid. Peligot has shown that by the ac- 

 tion of alkalies formic acid is converted into oxalic acid. Hy- 

 drogen is thereby developed, C= H- O* — H = C- H O*; 

 the oxalic acid in its turn may lose H, and become C- 0% 

 or carbonic acid. 



One part of elhal treated with 5-6 parts of lime-potassa, 

 gave at 210° to 220° C. a considerable quantity of hydrogen. 

 I'he residue, treated with hydrochloric acid, gave a flocky pre- 

 cipitate: this was combined by boiling with hydrate of baryta, 

 and the salt thus formed freed from excess of ethal by boiling 

 alcohol, and then decomposed by means of hydrochloric acid. 

 The precipitate is ethalic acid. The mixture tor preparing 

 it must not be heated above 220° C, and must be kept at 

 that temperature for five or six hours. Ethalic acid is co- 

 lourless, tasteless, inodorous, lighter than water, easily fusible, 

 solidifies at 55° C, and forms fine shining needles; insoluble 

 in water, soluble in boiling alcohol and a2ther; volatile. For- 

 mula C^- H^- O*. The salts, excepting those of the alkalies, 



are insoluble in water and alcohol. Fe- Eth is dark yellow, 



Co Eih is rose-coloured, Cu Eth light green, Ag Eth easily 

 decomposed. The potash salt is formed by fusing ethalic 

 acid with carbonate of potassa, and extraction with alcohol ; it 

 is white, with a pearly lustre, decomposed by excess of water ; 



• The sign here should represent equivalency, but not at all equality, — R. K. 



