Dr. A. von Planta and Mr. W. Wallace on Apiine. 215 



IV. Equivalent Number. 



As apiine does not foi-m salts nor stable combinations with 

 bases or acids, the determination of its real atomic proportion 

 cannot with certainty be performed. The combination formed 

 with oxide of lead under particular circumstances is too in-egular 

 in its composition for any reliance to be placed on the equivalent 

 which might be deduced from it. Indeed we question, from the 

 mode of its formation, whether it is a mixtui-e or a compound. We 

 were therefore obliged to have recourse to the metamorphosed pro- 

 ducts of apiine by acids and other agents; but as the resulting sub- 

 stances are themselves in exactly the same relation to other forms 

 of matter as apiine, the equivalent here given must be considex'ed 

 only as one of convenience and not the actual atomic weight. 



If the mean of the above results be divided by the equivalents 

 of the respective elements, numbers are found which indicate 

 roughly the comparative number of atoms arranged together. 

 These nmnbers may be divided at will ; and we have preferred 

 to take 24 atoms of carbon, in order that the eqmvalent may 

 correspond with those of pectine, gum, starch, sugar, and similar 

 substances. 



Mean of four analyses. 

 Carbon . 54-93 h-6 = 916 or 92 or 24-0 or 24 equivalents. 



Thus apiine does not appear to be one of the water-carbon 



substances, like gum, starch and sugar ; and, unlike pectine also, 



there are more equivalents of hydrogen than of oxygen. Bra- 



connot made no analysis of apiine, but he expressed the opinion 



that it was intermediate in its composition between the gum 



series and the resins, an idea which is fully supported by these 



analyses. This formula, C** H^'^O'^, agrees veiy well with the 



analyses made. 



Found. 



262 10000 100-00 10000 10000 10000 



V. Solubility and Gelatinizing Power. 

 The characteristic property of apiine being its power of be- 

 coming a jelly when a hot solution is cooled, its solubility in 

 water and other menstrua is a subject of considerable importance; 

 we were therefore led to examine this point veiy carefully. 



