328 CONSIDERATION OF CARBON COMPOUNDS. 



2. Acetic acids or acetates heated with sulphuric acid and alcohol 

 give a characteristic odor of acetic ether. 



3. A solution containing acetic acid, or an acetate carefully neutral- 

 ized, turns deep red on the addition of solution of ferric chloride, 

 and forms, on boiling, a reddish-brown precipitate of an oxyacetate 

 of iron. 



Potassium acetate, Potassii acetas, KC 2 H 3 O 2 = 98. Sodium 

 acetate, Sodii acetas, NaC 2 H 3 O 2 .3H 2 O = 136. Zinc acetate, 

 Zinci acetas, Zn (C 2 H 3 O 2 ) 2 .2H 2 O = 219. These three salts may be 

 obtained by neutralizing the respective carbonates with acetic acid 

 and evaporating the solution ; they are white salts, easily soluble in 

 water. 



Ammonium acetate, NH 4 C 2 H 3 O 2 , is official in the form of a 7 

 per cent, solution, which is known as Spirit of Mindererus. 



Ferric acetate, Fe 2 (C 2 H 3 O 2 ) 6 . A 33 per' cent, solution of this salt 

 is the Liquor ferri acetatis of the U. S. P. It is made by dissolving 

 freshly precipitated ferric hydroxide in acetic acid ; it is a dark, red- 

 brown, transparent liquid of a specific gravity of 1.16. 



Lead acetate, Plumbi acetas, Pb(C 2 H 3 O 2 ) 2 3H 2 O = 378.4 (Sugar 

 of lead\ is made by dissolving lead oxide in diluted acetic acid. It 

 forms colorless, shining, transparent crystals, easily soluble in water; 

 on heating, it melts and then loses water of crystallization ; at yet 

 higher temperatures it is decomposed ; it has a sweetish, astringent, 

 afterward metallic taste. Commercial sugar of lead contains often an 

 excess of lead oxide in the form of basic salts ; such an article when 

 dissolved in spring water gives generally a turbid solution, in conse- 

 quence of the formation of lead carbonate ; the addition of a few 

 drops of acetic acid renders the liquid clear by dissolving the pre- 

 cipitate. 



When a mixture of lead acetate and lead oxide is digested or boiled 

 with water, the acetate combines with the oxide, forming a basic lead 

 acetate, approximately Pb(C 2 H 3 O 2 ) 2 .PbO, a 25 per cent, solution of 

 which is the Liquor plumbi subacetatis, or Goulard's extract, whilst a 

 solution containing about 1 per cent, is the Liquor plumbi subacetatis 

 dilutus, or lead-water. 



Cupric acetate, Cu(C 2 H 3 O 2 ) 2 H 2 O. The commercial verdigris is a 

 basic acetate of copper, Cu(C 2 H 3 O 2 ) 2 CuO, made by the action of 

 dilute acetic acid and atmospheric air on metallic copper. By adding 



