MM. Dumas and Stas on Chemical Types. 205 



insoluble in aether; formula C^-H" O^ + K. Soda salt cry- 

 stallizes in large tabular crystals. 



One part of potatoe spirit oil treated at 200° with ten parts 

 of lime-potassa, gave hydrogen and valerianic aldehyd ; this 

 is further decomposed into valeric acid, C'° H'- O- H- 



= C'"HoO;.k- H + 0= C'oH'O'.K. The residue 

 is distilled with sulphuric acid, the vapours condensed in a 

 solution of carbonate of soda; out of this the pure valerianic 

 acid may be procured by distillation with phosphoric acid. 

 Specific gravity of the hydrated acid at 16°-5 C. = 0*937; 

 boils at 175°, is not solid at — 1 5°; decomposed by chlorine, not 

 by iodine and bromine; by anhydrous phosphoric acid is de- 

 composed into inflammable gases and valeron, &c. &c For- 

 mula C'o H>" O* = C"' HO' + HO; density of 'vapour 

 = 3-55; found by experiment = 3'67. There is also a hy- 

 drate with three atoms of water. Many salts do not crystal- 

 lize. The silver salt is anhydrous. 



Chlorovalerisic acid is formed when dry chlorine is passed 

 into valerianic acid without the aid of sunshine : the reaction 

 is violent. The acid is semifluid, transparent, heavier than 

 water, inodorous, burning taste; at —18° still fluid; decom- 

 posed at 100-120°, with development of hydrochloric acid; 

 combines with water ; the impure acid must therefore not be 

 washed. Formula C'" H' CI' O'. 



Chlorovalerosic acid. Formed by passing chlorine throuo-h 

 valerianic acid in the sunshine: the chlorine is driven out by 

 a stream of carbonic acid. Semifluid, inodorous, burnincr 

 bitter taste, heavier than water; not solid at —18°; decom*^ 

 posed above 1.50°. With water forms a hydrate. Aqueous 

 solutions not precipitated by acid nitrate of silver, but the 

 solutions in alcohol and aether are after a short time. For- 

 mula C"'H'^C1*0'. Potash salt is similar to the valerianate. 

 The acid is decomposed by an excess of alkali. The silver 

 salt decomposes in the dark; chloride of silver and a peculiar 

 body C"^ H« Cl^ O* are formed. Formula of the silver salt 



C"'HiCl*0'. Ag. The oily hydrate contains three atoms 

 of water. The boiling point of valerianic acid varies with 

 the quantity of water it contains; all three acids form hy- 

 drates with three atoms of water, and are herein similar to 

 the triacetate and triphocenate of lead. By continued distil- 

 lation of potatoe-oil with nitric acid the valerianic aldehyd is 

 formed, also by acting on it with sulpliuric acid and chromate 

 of potassa, or binoxide of manganese. The aldehyd has the 

 formula C" H'" 0-. 



Glycerin treated with lime-potassa in the same manner 



