CHOLESTERIC ACIU. 63 



mixed with water and heated till the azote melted. A little car- 

 bonate of lead was now added and the mixture boiled for seve- 

 ral hours, changing repeatedly the water. The liquids when eva- 

 porated gave all of them a little cholesterate of lead ; but none 

 of them, except the first, gave any nitrate of lead. The acid thus 

 treated was digested in alcohol, which dissolved it, leaving the cho- 

 lesterate of lead and carbonate of lead untouched. By evaporating 

 this solution, the cholesteric acid was obtained in a state of purity. 

 Cholesteric acid is soluble in alcohol, and when the liquid is 

 left to spontaneous evaporation, the acid crystallizes in white 

 needles. But when concreted into an uncrystallized mass, its 

 colour is orange-yellow. Its smell has some analogy to that of 

 butter, and its taste is slightly styptic. It melts, when heated, to 

 136. When heated above 212, it is decomposed into oil, 

 water, carbonic acid, and carburetted hydrogen. Its specific gra- 

 vity is higher than that of alcohol, but lower than that of water. 

 It is slightly soluble in water, for that liquid when left in contact 

 with it acquires the property of reddening litmus-paper. It is 

 more soluble in hot than in cold alcohol. 



It readily combines with the bases, and forms salts. The acids 

 have little action on it. Concentrated sulphuric acid becomes 

 first red, and then chars it when left long in contact with it. 

 Nitric acid dissolves it without alteration. It does not act upon 

 it so as to produce decomposition even when boiled with it 

 When evaporated, the cholesteric acid remains, possessing all its 

 properties. Acetic acid has no action on it, and is incapable of 

 dissolving it. It is very soluble in sulphuric and acetic ethers. 

 The volatile oils dissolve it readily even while cold, but the fixed 

 oils do not act upon it. 



From the analysis of cholesterate of bary tes made by Pelletier 

 and Caventou it follows that it is composed of 



Cholesteric acid, . 64- or 16 '9 

 Barytes, . . 36- or 9*5 



100 



Cholesteric acid was analyzed by Pelletier who obtained, 

 Carbon, . 54*93 



Hydrogen, . 7 '01 



Azote, - 4*71 



Oxygen, . 33-35 



100-00 



