

SIR WILLIAM CROOKES ON SCANDIUM. 33 



SCANDIUM BUTYRATE, 



* * 



(CH 3 -CH a -CH 2 -COO) 2 ScOH. 



When scandium hydroxide is heated with butyric acid, a white amorphous and 

 difficultly soluble salt is produced. When boiled in water, the butyrate softens to a 

 plastic mass, becoming hard and brittle on cooling. Like other scandium salts of the 

 fatty acids, scandium butyrate is more soluble in cold than in hot water, and is 

 precipitated from a cold solution on boiling. It is easily soluble in alcohol. The 

 solution in cold water, evaporated over a water-bath, leaves a residue which under 

 the microscope is seen to consist of minute spherical groups, radiating from a central 

 nucleus. 



Analysis. 



6'251 grs. of butyrate yielded on ignition 1'82G grs. of scandia, = 1/18:2 grs. of 



scandium. 



Theory. Experiment. 



Sc 44-100 1875 18-91 



OH . 



2(C 3 H 7 COO) . 



235-220 100-00 lOO'OO 



SCANDIUM ISO-F.UTYRATE, 

 3N >CH-COO\ScOH ) 2H a O. 



This salt is prepared in a similar manner to the butyrate, which it much resembles 

 in appearance. It is more soluble in cold than in hot water, a saturated cold solution 

 becoming thick and depositing amorphous flakes when heated. On cooling the liquid 

 becomes clear again ; in this respect it closely resembles calcium butyrate. It is very 

 soluble in alcohol and is precipitated by water from the alcoholic solution. 



The formula of the iso-butyrate differs from that of the butyrate in having two 

 molecules of water of crystallisation : 



(C 3 H 7 COO) 2 ScOH,2H 2 O. 



Analysis. 



9-994 grs. of scandium iso-butyrate gave on ignition 2 '5 50 grs. of scandia, 



= T651 grs. of scandium. 

 VOL. ccix. A. F 





