ACETONE. 795 



liberated, which last protects the salt from further decom- 

 position. 



Chloride of ammonium and chloride of sodium form corres- 

 ponding double salts with the chloroplatinate of chloride of 

 ethyl. 



Ammoniacal chloroplatinate of chloride of acetyl. Ammonia 

 or the carbonate of ammonia throws down a lemon yellow pre- 

 cipitate from the solution of these double compounds, in which 

 the chldroplatinate of chloride of acetyl is united with the ele- 

 ments of one atom of ammonia : Ac Pt Cl 2 -f NH 3 . It is solu- 

 ble in alcohol; sparingly soluble in cold water; and its solution 

 cannot be evaporated without decomposition. 



SECTION VI. 



PRODUCTS OF THE ACTION OF HEAT UPON THE ACETIC ACID 

 OF THE ACETATES. 



ACETONE. 



Syn. Pyroacetic spirit, mesitic alcohol, bihydrate of mesity- 

 lene (Kane). Empyrical formula C 3 H 3 O. 



The vapour of strong acetic acid passed through a porcelain 

 tube heated to dull redness is decomposed without the deposi- 

 tion of any charcoal, being converted entirely into the vapour 

 of acetone, which condenses, and a mixture of gases, containing 

 carbonic oxide, carbonic acid and carburetted hydrogen. If the 

 temperature exceeds a dull red heat, the products are a brown 

 empyreumatic oil, inflammable gases and a deposit of charcoal. 

 Anhydrous acetic acid contains the elements of 1 atom of car- 

 bonic acid and L atom of acetone : 



C 4 H 3 3 = C0 2 and C 3 H 3 O 3 . 



The acetates of the stronger bases which retain carbonic acid at 

 a red heat, when submitted to destructive distillation become 

 carbonates, and supply no volatile product except acetone. 

 The acetates of earths of which the carbonates are decomposed 

 at a red heat, such as magnesia, afford a mixture of acetone 



