35 



two or three hours' digestion. The oxalate of aery I formed in this 

 process, when separated from the iodide of silver, washed with water, 

 dried over chloride of calcium, and redistilled, presents itself as a 

 colourless transparent liquid, heavier than water, possessing a peculiar 

 aromatic odour. It boils at 207, and hy analysis has been proved 



to contain 



C 8 H 5 4 =C 2 (C 6 H 5 )0 4 . 



When treated with ammonia, oxalate of acryl furnishes oxamide 

 and the alcohol, which was the object of our researches. This 

 alcohol acrylic alcohol is a colourless transparent liquid of a 

 peculiar, somewhat pungent odour, resembling that of mustard, and 

 which in fact is more or less characteristic of nearly all the members 

 of the acryl series. 



The analysis of acrylic alcohol has led to the formula 

 C 6 H 6 O 2 =4 vol. of vapour. 



This compound is isomeric with acetone and with propyl-alde- 

 hyde, from which substances, however, it differs essentially by the 

 aggregate of its properties. 



Acrylic alcohol burns with a much more luminous flame than 

 ordinary alcohol. It mixes in all proportions with water. Treated 

 with potassium, it disengages hydrogen and is converted into a trans- 

 parent gelatinous mass, which is the acryl-tcrm corresponding to 

 potassium-alcohol. 



This potassium compound is violently attacked by iodide of acryl ; 

 a precipitate of iodide of potassium is thrown down, and a liquid is 

 formed lighter than water, and insoluble in this fluid. This new 

 substance corresponds to ordinary ether ; its formation is illustrated 

 by the following equation : 



C 6 (H 5 K)0 2 + C e H 5 I=KI + C 12 H 10 O 2 . 



The same product is formed by the action of iodide of acryl upon 

 oxide of silver or of mercury. 



On treating the new potassium-alcohol with iodide of ethyl, or the 

 ethyl-potassium-alcohol with iodide of acryl, an aromatic liquid is 

 produced, which is obviously the mixed ether of the ethyl and 

 acryl series. 



If acrylic alcohol be distilled with chloride, bromide or iodide of 



