HYDRATE OF OXIDE OF AMYL. 813 



HYDRATE OF OXIDE OF AMYL, OIL OF POTATOES, AND OF 

 GRAIN SPIRITS. 



Syn. Fousel oil, amilic alcohol, bihydrate of amylene ; C 10 H U O, 

 HO (Dumas). 



In distilling the fermented wash of grain or potato spirits, a 

 milky liquid comes over towards the end of the process, and an oil 

 subsides after a time, which is hydrate of oxide of amyl, mixed 

 with nearly an equal quantity of alcohol and water. To purify the 

 crude product, it is agitated with water several times, left in 

 contact with chloride of calcium for some time, and distilled 

 again. The alcohol and water come off first, and the boiling 

 point of the liquid rises to 269.6 (132 centig.), when the re- 

 ceiver should be changed, as what then passes over is perfectly 

 pure. 



Hydrate of oxide of amyl is a colourless, limpid, oily liquid, 

 of which the odour, at first agreeable, soon becomes rank and 

 nauseous. The inspiration of its vapour occasions spasmodic 

 pains in the chest, with coughing and even vomiting. It burns 

 with a bluish white flame. Its taste is very acrid. It stains 

 paper, but the stain disappears after a time. The density of 

 this liquid is 0.8124 at 59; its boiling point 269.6; the density 

 of its vapour 3147, of which the combining measure contains 

 4 volumes ; it freezes at 2 or 4 in crystalline leaflets. 

 Water dissolves a small quantity of it so as to acquire the odour 

 of the oil; it is miscible in all proportions with acetic acid, 

 alcohol, ether, the fat and essential oils. It may be mixed also 

 with solutions of caustic potash and soda; when heated with 

 hydrate of potash, hydrogen gas is given off, and the valerate of 

 potash formed. When distilled with anhydrous phosphoric 

 acid, it yields a liquid hydrocarbon, to which Cahours has given 

 the name of amilene. 



Hydrate of oxide of amyl unites directly with bichloride of 

 tin, according to Gerhardt, and forms a crystalline compound, 

 which is decomposed by water. 



Chloride of amyl, C 14 H U ,C1 = Ayl Cl. This compound is 

 obtained by distilling equal parts of oil of potatoes and perchlo- 

 ride of phosphorus. In a state of purity, it is a colourless 

 liquid, of a pretty agreeable odour, insoluble in water, boiling 

 about 215.6 (102 centig.), perfectly neutral to test-paper, and 

 having no action upon a solution of nitrate of silver. 



