i2 4 PLANT AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 



Sulphuric acid combined with solvents gave characteristic 

 and distinct reactions with the yellowish-green petroleum spirit 

 residue, and with the crystalline substance separated from it. 



A scheme has been proposed for the identification of vari- 

 ous waxes, based upon quantitative experiments. 1 The exam- 

 ination rendered division into two groups possible, according 

 to the solubilities of the waxes with chloroform. Again, their 

 action with ether, and acetate of lead solution added to the 

 alcoholic solutions, allows the several varieties of waxes to be 

 distinguished from one another. 



The petroleum spirit residue was submitted to the tests 

 proposed in Hirschsohn's scheme. It was boiled with ten times 

 its volume of chloroform, and when cool the liquid became 

 cloudy. By this test, the petroleum spirit residue was placed 

 in the group with carnauba and Bahia w r ax. An ethereal 

 solution of the petroleum spirit residue, on adding an equal 

 volume of alcohol, remained clear. According to Hirsch- 

 sohn's scheme, 2 an ethereal solution of Bahia wax similarly 

 treated remains clear, and by this means the wax is distin- 

 guished from carnaiiba wax, which it is said to resemble in 

 most of its properties. The wax from Copernicia cerifera, the 

 carnaiiba tree of Brazil, and carnauba wax obtained from 

 the leaves of Corypha cerijera, are related very closely by their 

 chemical properties, and possibly are identical. 3 



Carnauba wax is described as a clear yellow wax with a green- 

 ish tinge, and harder than beeswax. It contains a notable 

 percentage of free melissyl alcohol and other alcohols very 

 difficult to separate. Insoluble in water, it is dissolved with 

 difficulty by alcohol and ether, though readily soluble in car- 

 bon di-sulphide and oil of turpentine. It is not acted upon by 

 linseed oil; it is changed yellow by nitric acid; with sulphuric 

 acid no appreciable effect is produced. The melting-point 

 is variously stated from 82 to 85 C. The specific gravity 

 from .998 to .999. 



1 "Contributions to the Chemistry of Several Varieties of Wax," by E. 

 Hirschsohn, Pharmaceutical Journal and Transactions, vol. x, March, 1880. 



2 Loc. cit. 



3 Gmelin, Handbook of Chemistry, vol. xviii. Translated by H. Watts, 

 London. 



