M. Wirz on Lepargylic Acid. 361 



The formula of the dry salt is therefore 2NH4C1, AsClO^. 

 The loss of water by exposure over oil of vitriol amounted to 

 4'27 per cent. ; one equivalent of water gives 3'71 per cent. 

 During the desiccation a little chlorine is evolved and replaced 

 by oxygen. 



. I am still engaged in prosecuting the investigation of the com- 

 pounds of chloro-arsenious acid with the metallic chlorides^ and 

 in endeavouring to form corresponding acids containing iodine 

 and bx'omine. 



XL. Chemical Notices from Foreign Journals. 



By E. Atkinson, Ph.D. 



[Continued from p. 298.] 



N the series of bibasic acids of the general formula C° H"~^0^, 

 commencing with oxalic acid, C'^ H^ 0^, and terminating 

 with sebacic acid, C^° H^** 0^, the terms containing 18, 10, 

 and 6 equivalents were until lately wanting. Recently some 

 new acids have been described which fill up the vacant spaces. 



Two acids have been described of the formula C^° H^ 0^, lipic 

 and pyrotartaric acids. Lipic acid w^as found by Laurent along 

 with suberic acid, Cni"* 0^ pimelic acid, C^^H'^O^ and 

 adipic acid, C'^ H"^ 0^, among the products of oxidation of oleic 

 acid by nitric acid ; but since then it has not been again obtained, 

 and its existence was doubtful. Gerhardt put in its place pyro- 

 tartaric acid, obtained by the destructive distillation of tartaric 

 acid ; but Arppe, who investigated this acid, found that, although 

 it had the same formula, it differed materially in form, solubility, 

 melting-point, and properties of its salts, from the other mem- 

 bers of the series. 



An acid was discovered by Barral in tobacco, which he named 

 nicotic acid. This acid he did not analyse, but from its decom- 

 positions he assigned to it the formula C^ H'^ 0^, which would be 

 the missing term containing 6 equivs. carbon. In a recent in- 

 vestigation of the oxidation products of Chinese wax, Mr. Buck- 

 ton* found a new acid which he named anchoic acid. The ana- 

 lyses of the acid, and of its silver, lead, and i)otassium salts, fix 

 its formula at C'^II'^0^, which is the formula of the missing 

 term containing 18 equivs. carbon. 



Most of these bibasic acids arc formed by the action of nitric 

 acid on the fats : the acids produced in this reaction have been 

 recently investigated by Wirzf, who, besides establishing the ex- 



♦ Clicniical Gazette, August IG, 1858. Quart. Journ. Chem. Society, 

 vol. X. J). H)(). 

 t Licbig's Annalen, December 1857. 



