18 ANIMAL ACIDS DESTITUTE OF AZOTE. 

 SECTION X. OF PIMELIC ACJD. 



This acid was discovered by Laurent, and was one of the nu- 

 merous products obtained when oleic acid is heated with concen- 

 trated nitric acid.* Bromeis got it in the same way, and sub- 

 jected it to a rigid analysis.f 



It is found most abundantly in the water employed to wash 

 the suberic acid, obtained from oleic acid by the process describ- 

 ed in a former section. It exists also in smaller quantity in the 

 mother ley from which the suberic acid had precipitated, and 

 may be obtained by slow evaporation. After being repeatedly 

 crystallized from water to free it from two very soluble acids, 

 which will be described in the two following sections, it forms a 

 mass, differing in appearance from suberic acid, and consisting 

 of single white, small grains. After having been dried in a heat 

 of 212 it melts at 273, and may be easily sublimed in fine, 

 silky, feather-shaped crystals. It is rather more soluble in water 

 than suberic acid. Pimelate of ammonia does not precipitate 

 chlorides of barium, strontium, calcium, manganese, and zinc, nor 

 sulphate of copper. 



It has no smell but a much stronger acid taste than suberic 

 acid has. It is not altered by exposure to the air. It is very 

 soluble in boiling water. At 64-| one part of it is soluble in 

 35 of water. Alcohol, ether, and sulphuric acid dissolve it rea- 

 dily when assisted by heat. 



It was analyzed with nearly the same result by Laurent and by 

 Bromeis. The last mentioned chemist found pimelate of silver 

 composed of 



Pimelic acid, . 37-75 or 87-37 

 Oxide of silver, 62-25 or 14-5 



100-00 



When analyzed by means of oxide of copper, the hydrous acid 

 gave Laurent 



Carbon, . 52-52 

 Hydrogen, . 7-50 

 Oxygen, . 39-98 



100-00 

 \ 

 * Ann* de Chim. et de Phys. Ixvi. 163. f Annalen der Pharm. xxxv. 104. 



