VALERIANIC ACID. 63 



and the acids analogous to it, in so far as they occur in the animal 

 body, as products of regressive metamorphosis of tissue, while 

 in the different fatty acids of the vegetable kingdom the progres- 

 sion gradually ascends, step by step, to margaric acid. 



VALERIANIC ACID. C 10 H 9 O 3 . HO, 



Chemical Relations. 



Properties. This acid possesses the general properties of this 

 group, has a well-known characteristic odour, an acrid burning, 

 taste, and produces a white spot upon the tongue: it does not 

 become solid at a temperature of 15; it boils at 176, and dis- 

 solves in 26 parts of water: it also forms a second hydrate= 



VaT.SHO. 



Composition. According to the above formula it consists of : 



Carbon 10 atoms .... 58*824 



Hydrogen 9 .... 8-823 



Oxygen 3 .... 23-530 



Water 1 .... 8'823 



100-000 



The atomic weight of the hypothetical anhydrous acid=1162'5 ; 

 its saturating capacity=S'602. According to Kolbe's hypothesis, 

 its theoretical formula=C 8 H 9 . C 2 O 3 . HO. 



Combinations. The valerian ates are for the most part soluble : 

 the alkaline salts do not crystallise, but most of the other salts crys- 

 tallise in nacreous plates, similar to cholesterin or boracic acid ; 

 they have a sweetish, but at the same time a valerian-like taste. 

 Valeriariic acid is separated from its salts by acetic and succinic 

 acids, but not by benzoic acid. The lime-salt effloresces on expo- 

 sure to the air; the zinc-salt dissolves in 160 parts of water, and 

 in 60 parts of spirit of wine; the aqueous solution becomes turbid 

 when warmed, but clears again upon cooling: moreover it reddens 

 litmus. The silver-salt is very insoluble. 



Valeronitrile, C 10 H 9 N (or C 8 H 9 . C 2 N) 5 was first discovered 

 by Schlieper*, in the oxidation of gelatin by chromic acid ; it may 

 however, be obtained from valerianate of ammonia, or valeramide 

 (H 2 N. C 10 H 9 O. 2 ), by anhydrous phosphoric acid. It is a thin, 

 liquid, colourless, strongly refracting oil, smelling like alder leaves, 

 and having a hot aromatic taste ; its specific gravity is = 0*81 ; it 

 boils at 125, inflames readily, dissolves in water, alcohol, and 



* Ann. d. Ch.u. Pharm. Bd. 59, S. 1-32. 



