Mr. Noad on the Action of Nitric Acid on Cymol. 29 



minutes it solidified into a yellow crystalline mass. This im- 

 pure aether was next treated with carbonate of potash, by 

 which all adhering undecomposed acid was removed ; it was 

 then thrown on a filter, well-washed with cold water, and 

 dried by pressure between folds of bibulous paper ; it was 

 now of a pale amber colour, and possessed a very agreeable 

 odour ; it was redissolved in hot alcohol and filtered, the al- 

 coholic solution on cooling solidified into a light lemon-co- 

 loured crystalline mass; this was dried between folds of 

 blotting-paper, transferred to a watch-glass, and, placed in 

 the water-bath, it immediately liquefied: after remaining 

 about an hour it was removed, and on cooling it gradually 

 crystallized into a mass of needles radiating from a common 

 centre and having a very beautiful appearance. 



It was analysed by combustion with oxide of copper, and 

 furnished the following results : — 



0362 grm. gave 0'760 grm. carbonic acid and 0'175 grm. 

 water. Centesimally — 



Carbon .... 57-26 

 Hydrogen ... 5 -3 7 



agreeing with the formula C4 H5 O, Cis<! j^^ VO.^, as shown 



by the following comparison :— 



Theory. Experiment. 



20 eqs. Carbon 120 



11 ... Hydrogen .... 11 

 1 ... Nitrogen .... 14 

 8 ... Oxygen .... 64 

 1 ... Nitrotoluylic aether . 209 lOO'OO 



The remainder of the aether was dissolved in a strong alco- 

 holic solution of ammonia and set aside with the view of pro- 

 curing nitrotoluylamide : this substance, however, which it 

 would have been interesting to have compared with the cor- 

 responding term of the benzoyl series lately obtained by Mr. 

 Field*, I have not yet been able to obtain. 



Nilrotoluylate of Oxide of Methyle. — To prepare this sub- 

 stance, nitrotoluylic acid was dissolved in pure pyroxylic 

 spirit, and the solution subjected to a long-continued stream 

 of dry hydrochloric acid gas, as in the corresponding ethyle 

 compound. On distilling the fuming acid liquid, a consider- 

 able quantity of a dense, black oily substance collected at the 

 bottom of the vessel : this was evidently the methyle com- 

 pound contaminated with results of the decomposition of the 

 * Pliilosopliical Magazine, vol. x>;xi. p. 459. 



