962 OILY ACIDS. 



completely from a slip of platinum, but when distilled in a 

 retort it leaves a residue of charcoal. It is soluble in 50 parts 

 of alcohol of 0.837, arid in 6j parts of absolute alcohol, and 

 crystallizes upon the cooling of these solutions. Margarone 

 is also soluble in ether, concentrated acetic acid, oil of tur- 

 pentine and the liquid fats. Obtained from the distillation of 

 stearic acid and lime, the point of fusion of margarone may 

 rise so high as 186.8 (86 centig.) after repeated crystallization, 

 it must be then a different substance. From the analyses of 

 margarone fusing at 170.6 by Bussy, Redtenbacher and Var- 

 rentrapp, which agree, it follows that margarone is produced 

 when margaric acid loses the elements of 1 atom of carbonic 

 acid. Margarone is also produced in the distillation of stearic 

 acid, and it is supposed possible by M. Liebig that the carbonic 

 acid may come from the decomposition of the margarone. 

 2 atoms of hydrated stearic acid, which, indicating C 34 H 33 by R, 

 would be R 4 O 10 -f 4HO, are resolved into- 



3R + 9O + 3 HO Margaric acid, 

 R-f O+ HO^Oxide of margaryl. 



Two atoms of oxide of margaryl (a hypothetical compound) 

 would contain the elements of a hydrocarbon C 66 H 66 , of 1 atom 

 carbonic acid CO 2 and 1 atom of carbon C. 



The matter fusible at 186.8, which Bussy named stearone 

 may from his analysis be represented by 2R + O. 



ACID PRODUCTS OF THE ACTION OF NITRIC ACID ON MARGARIC 

 AND STRARIC ACIDS. 



When stearic acid is heated with an equal volume of nitric 

 acid of 1.284, an abundant disengagement of deutoxide and 

 peroxide of nitrogen takes place as soon as the mixture boils. 

 If the mixture is then allowed to cool the stearic acid separates 

 apparently unaltered, but really converted entirely into margaric 

 acid, while the nitric acid contains no foreign substance in 

 determinable quantity. By the prolonged action of the boiling 

 acid on margaric acid, the latter is gradually but completely 

 dissolved, and the more readily if the nitric acid be renewed 

 from time to time ; the solution then contains suberic acid, 



