136 



added to the residue, and also distilled off. To this first distillate 

 sodium was again added, and treated with the last distillate instead 

 of pure chloroform, the same precautions being used as before. This 

 method gave similar distillates, and in about the same proportion as 

 that first used ; the highest distillate however boiled constantly at 

 146 instead of at 145-3 C. 



This compound which boils at 145 ta 146 C. is a colourless 

 limpid liquid, only slightly soluble in water, having a strongly aro- 

 matic odour, readily inflammable and burning without much smoke ; 

 its specific gravity is '8964 ; it remained liquid at F. 



Several analyses made of this body agree in giving to it the for- 

 mula C 7 H 16 O 3 , which would also be the empirical formula of a 

 tribasic formic- ether ; the density of its vapour also corresponds very 

 closely with the same formula. 



Pentachloride of phosphorus added to a portion of the compound 

 produced a heavy liquid having the odour of chloroform. 



A small quantity of the body was dissolved in alcohol, distilled 

 upwards for two or three hours with solid hydrate of potash and 

 then distilled off; the residue was next dissolved in water and made 

 exactly neutral by hydrochloric acid, filtered to remove the turbidity, 

 and then a few drops of chloride of mercury added ; after a little time 

 and by the application of heat, a very slight precipitate of subchlo- 

 ride of mercury was formed ; also the colour of sesquichloride of 

 iron was a little darkened by another portion of the solution, thus 

 showing that the action of potash on the compound had produced 

 formic acid, but in very small quantity. 



An equivalent of dry hydrochloric acid was passed into a portion 

 of the compound ; the gas was wholly absorbed, a considerable amount 

 of heat being evolved and the liquid assuming a brownish colour ; the 

 liquid after the absorption of the gas still remained perfectly neutral. 

 It was next distilled with the thermometer : it began to boil at 20 C. 

 and rose gradually to 100; it was collected in three portions, the first 

 (about one-sixth of the whole) passing over between 20 and 50, the 

 second (about one -third) between 50 and 68, the third (one-half) 

 between 68 and 100. I was unable to carry these distillations 

 further in consequence of the small quantity of the liquid available. 



Two equivalents of dry hydrochloric acid were passed into a 

 larger quantity of the compound ; towards the close the gas was ab- 



