314 Dr. Smith on the Composition of Spermaceti. 
the acid products resulting from the distillation. To this was 
added a solution of chloride of calcium, by which means an in- 
soluble compound of the acids and lime was formed, and this 
being decomposed by hydrochloric acid, furnished the acids for 
examination, 
Although it was evident from what had been before done, that 
no oleic acid could be present, yet to prevent any doubt, I made 
a direct examination for this acid, by digesting a portion of the 
acid mass with water and oxide of lead, and then treating the 
lead salt thus formed with ether, which dissolved no portion of 
it. The portion of the acid product not digested with the oxide 
of lead, was found to consist of a solid acid, mixed with a very 
small quantity of a fluid one, which I considered to be the same, 
that has been before mentioned, as a probable impurity of spet- 
maceti, and for the same reasons then stated, it was impossible 
to make any examination of it. ; 
The solid acid, which was obtained pure by repeated crystalliza- 
tion out of alcohol, exhibited the same physical properties, as well 
as chemical composition, as the acid obtained from the saponifica- 
tion of spermaceti, and which has been shown to be athalie acid. 
0.2715 of the acid gave 0.739 gram. carbonic acid, and 0.306 
gram. water, making in 100 parts 
Hydrated athalic acid. 
75.21 
Carbon, 2 = “ 75.00 
weyatogen, = = 1°97 >< 12.52 12.35 
Oxy pet 205 eee 12.48 12.40 
: 100.00 100.00 
0.8625 gram. of the silver salt, when burnt, gave 0.254 gram. 
silver, which indicates in 100 parts, 29.44 silver, 31.61 oxide of 
silver, and an atomic weight of 250. ; 
0.481 gram. of the silver salt, burnt with the oxide of coppeh 
gave 0.932 gram. carbonic acid, and 0.368 gram. water. The pet 
centage afforded by this will serve to show the identity betwee 
it and athalic acid. 
In 100 parts. 
; Athalate of silver. Atoms. Atomic weight. “Calculated. Found. 
_ Carbon, 32 194.18 53.16 53.28 
31.00 8.48 8.50 
' 24.00 6.57 6.61 
3 ni 
a Ge = ae eee 
Ke 4 6 Segoe, $ Py i : te nk pi sei opee pets 
365.31 100.00 —- 100.00 
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