836 XYLITE, MESITEN, MliSlTE. 



A mixture of iodine, nitric acid and wood spirit left to itself 

 for a long time, deposits yellow crystals. Bromine in the same 

 circumstances gives a heavy oily liquid (Aime). 



SECTION III. 



PRODUCTS OF THE DISTILLATION OF WOOD HAVING SOME 

 RELATION TO OXIDE OF METHYL. 



Xylite, lignone (Gmelin), a liquid which exists in commercial 

 pyroxylic spirit, and is separated from the hydrate of oxide of 

 methyl by distillation from chloride of calcium at 212. MM. 

 Weidmann and Schweizer, in their last memoir on these pro- 

 ducts, assign to xylite the formula C 6 H 6 O 2i . The density of 

 its vapour was by experiment 2177? by theory 2159 ; its boiling 

 point 142.7 (61.5 centig.) ; density 0.816. Pure xylite has an 

 agreeable, sharp odour, and empyreumatic taste. It is miscible 

 with water, dissolves but little chloride of calcium, and burns 

 with a white flame. 



Mesiten, C 6 H 6 O 3 (Weidmann and Schweizer), a liquid ob- 

 tained by distilling equal parts of sulphuric acid and xylite, in 

 which chloride of calcium is wholly insoluble. Its density is 

 0.80S ; boiling point 145.4 (63 centig.) 



Xylitic acid, C^gO^ (W. and S.), obtained by treating an- 

 hydrous xylite with hydrate of potash. The salt thus formed 

 is supposed to be a compound of xylitate of potash with xylite, 

 3 (KO, C 4 H 3 O ]4 ) -fC 6 H 6 O 2i . It is readily soluble in wood- 

 spirit, but is insoluble in anhydrous xylite. Xylite oil and 

 xylite resin are two other substances contained in an oil, formed, 

 among other products, by the action of an excess of hydrate of 

 potash upon xylite. 



Mesite, C 6 H 6 O 2 (W. and S.). This liquid which, in its phy- 

 sical properties, very much resembles mesiten, exists in crude 

 proxylic spirit, and comes over late in its rectification. Mesite 

 may, therefore, be separated, by distillation with water, from 

 xylite, as the latter passes over early. Mesite is also formed by 



