796 ACETONE. 



and carbonic acid, when distilled ; and acetates of bases which 

 are easily reduced, such as the acetates of copper and silver, 

 yield hydrated acetic acid, carbonic oxide, carbonic acid, water 

 and acetone, the residuum containing a mixture of the metal 

 and highly divided charcoal. Acetone also appears among the 

 products of the distillation with an alkali of sugar and other 

 ternary compounds of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen (page 710)- 

 Acetone may be conveniently prepared by distilling a mixture 

 of 2 parts of crystallized acetate of lead and 1 part of quick- 

 lime in a salt-glaze jar (greybeard), the lower part of the jar 

 being coated with fire-clay, and a bent glass tube half an inch 

 in diameter adapted to the mouth by a cork, so as to form a 

 distillatory apparatus. The jar is supported in the mouth of a 

 small furnace, by which the lower part of the jar only is heated 

 to redness, and the vapours conducted into a Liebig*s condenser. 

 The product is redistilled from quick lime repeatedly,till its boil- 

 ing point is constant at 132. 



Acetone is a limpid colourless liquid, having a peculiar pene- 

 trating and slightly empyreumatic odour. Its density in the 

 liquid state is almost the same as that of alcohol 0.7921, and 

 the density of its vapour 2022, air being 1000 ; its taste is 

 disagreeable and analogous to that of peppermint. It is mis- 

 cible in all proportions with water, alcohol and ether. Many 

 salts which are soluble in alcohol and water are insoluble in 

 acetone, particularly chloride of calcium and hydrate of potash ; 

 acetone is separated from water, by dissolving such salts in the 

 mixture of these liquids. Acetone is highly inflammable and 

 burns with a white flame. 



On rectifying acetone derived from the acetates, a less vola- 

 tile oleaginous body remains in the retort, which has been 

 examined by Dr. Kane and named dumasine. This empyreu- 

 matic oil has a disagreeable odour and burning taste ; it boils at 

 248 (120 cent.) ; its composition is expressed by C 10 H 8 O ; 

 the density of its vapour is 5204, and its combining measure 

 4 volumes. 



Metacetone, C 6 H 5 O, which is also obtainable from sugar, 

 has already been described. 



Dr. Kane who examined acetone and the products of its 

 decomposition several years ago, then assigned to the former 



