MESITYLRNE. 7<>7 



the constitution of an alcohol, doubling its atomic weight and 

 giving it the formula : 



C 6 H 5 + HO. 



The bodies derived from it, which I can only notice very shortly, 

 were named by him on that theory. 



Mesitylene, C 6 H 4 . This hydrocarbon is an oily colourless 

 liquid, obtained on distilling acetone with half its volume of 

 fuming sulphuric acid. It is obviously formed by the abstrac- 

 tion of the elements of 2 atoms of water from acetone. Sul- 

 phuric acid, nitric acid and chlorine react upon mesitylene in 

 the same way as they do upon benzin (benzole;. Mesitylene is 

 lighter than water; it boils at 276.4 (135.5 cent.) Later in 

 the distillation of the materials which yield that oil, another oil 

 which resembles it much passes over, but of which the boiling 

 point is more elevated. The formula of the second oil appears 

 to be C 6 H 3 . 



Oxide of mesityle, C 6 H 5 O (Kane). Is obtained on adding 

 caustic potash to the chloride of mesityle ; a limpid colourless 

 liquid, not miscible with water, having the odour of pepper- 

 mint ; it boils at 248. 



Chloride of mesityle, C 6 H 5 Cl (Kane). Produced by the 

 direct action of hydrochloric acid upon acetone, or by adding 

 2 parts of perchloride of phosphorus gradually to 1 part of 

 acetone. An oily liquid denser than water, and not miscible 

 with that liquid. 



Chloroplatinate of oxide of mesityle, C 6 H 5 O, Pt C1 2 (Zeise); 

 named metacechlorplatin by Zeise. Obtained by distilling a 

 solution of 1 proportion of bichloride of platinum with 21 pro- 

 portions of acetone, when hydrochloric acid and an ethereal 

 body pass over into the receiver, and a brown acid residue is 

 left in the retort. The residue contains a resinous matter which 

 Zeise names the resin of platinum ; the aqueous solution derived 

 from washing the resin, becomes turbid after a time, and de- 

 posits the compound in question in small yellow crystals which 

 lose nothing at 212. It is slightly soluble in water; the 

 solution is decomposed by ebullition. When the mother liquor 

 of these crystals is distilled, there is a disengagement of gas, 



