DIMETHYL-PHENOLS. 299 



Paracresol-methylether, C 7 H 7 .O.CIP. Colorless 

 liquid boiling at 174. Is oxidized to anisic acid by 

 chromic acid. 



Paracresol-ethylether, C 7 IF.O.C 2 H 5 . Colorless 

 liquid ; boiling point, 188. 



Paracresol-acetate, C 7 H 7 .O.C 2 IFO. Liquid; boil 

 ing point, 208-211. 



Dinitro-paracresol, C 6 H 2 (1TO 2 ) 2 ) g* Is produced 



by the action of nitrous acid on paratoluidin. Yellow 

 crystals, that fuse at 84. 



The cresol contained in coal-tar and wood-tar to 

 gether with phenol is liquid, and does not congeal. It 

 is either ortho- or meta-cresol, or more probably a mix 

 ture of two or all three of the cresols. 



3. Phenols, C 8 H 10 0. 



a. Dimethyl-phenols (Xylenols). 



( ffflFW 

 OTPJgj? 



Of the many modifications possible according to the 

 theory, only three are as yet known 



1. Solid Xylenol {(Metaxylene-phenol). Is pro 

 duced together with the following compound, when 

 the mixture of meta- and paraxylene, that is obtained 

 from coal-oil, is converted into sulpho-acids by dissolv 

 ing in sulphuric acid, and the potassium salts of these 

 acids melted with caustic potassa. It is also produced 

 by heating oxymesitylic acid with caustic potassa. 

 Colorless crystals ; fusing points, 75 ; boiling point, 

 216. 



2. Liquid Xylenol. Is produced together with the 

 preceding compound. Colorless liquid, boiling point, 

 211.5. 



