CEREBRIC ACID. 71 



To determine its atomic weight, he analyzed cerebrate of barytes, 

 which he had obtained in the following manner : Cerebric acid 

 was boiled with water to convert it into a hydrate. An excess 

 of barytes water was then poured into the liquid, and it was kept 

 boiling for some time, taking care to exclude carbonic acid gas. 

 A white, flocky insoluble precipitate fell, which, when washed and 

 dried, was composed of 



Cerebric acid, . 92-2 or 112-29 

 Barytes, . . 7*8 or 9-5 



100-0 



Were we to consider the salt as a neutral cerebrate, the ato- 

 mic weight of cerebric acid would be 112-29. But it is more 

 probable from analogy that it contains two atoms barytes united 

 to one atom of cerebric acid. This would make the atomic weight 

 of the acid 224-58. 



The atomic composition agreeing best with this weight, and 

 with Fremy's analysis is 



198 atoms carbon, . 148-5 or per cent. 66-90 



186 atoms hydrogen, . 23-25 ... 10-47 



3 atoms azote, . 5-25 ... 2-36 



1 atom phosphorus, . = 2- ... 0-90 



43 atoms oxygen, . =43. ... 19-37 



222- 100-00 



or perhaps 3 (C 66 H 63 Az O 14 ) + Ph. These numbers corre- 

 spond sufficiently with the analysis, and make the atomic weight 

 of the acid 222. 



Cerebric acid combines in definite proportions with bases. It 

 is therefore an acid, though possessed of very little energy. 

 When heated with dilute solution of potash, soda, or ammonia, it 

 is not dissolved ; yet it combines with their different bases. These 

 combinations may be obtained by putting an alcoholic solution 

 of cerebric acid in contact with these bases. A precipitate im- 

 mediately falls, almost quite insoluble in alcohol, which consists 

 of the acid united to the respective bases. Lime, barytes, and stron- 

 tian combine directly with cerebric acid, and make it lose the 

 property of forming an emulsion with water. The remaining 

 cerebrates have not yet been examined. 



