154 OILY OXIDES NOT SAPONIFIABLE, 



then allow it to cool, the portion not sublimed remains in a 

 liquid state, even though cooled down to zero. 



Cholesterin does not act on vegetable blues ; does not form a 

 soap with potash ; with sulphuric acid it strikes an orange-red 

 colour.* 



The crystals of cholesterin deposited from alcohol contain 

 about 5 '15 per cent, of water of crystallization, which may be 

 driven off by heat. When heated on platinum foil, it catches 

 fire and burns like wax. It is very little soluble in water. Cold 

 alcohol dissolves very little ; but the stronger the alcohol, the 

 more it dissolves. According to Chevreul, boiling alcohol of 

 0*84 dissolves the ninth part of its weight of cholesterin ; while 

 boiling alcohol of 0-816 dissolves j.j. Pyroxylic spirit behaves 

 almost exactly as alcohol. But a considerable portion of the 

 cholesterin is retained in solution after the spirit cools. Ether, 

 at 32, dissolves -f 1 ^, at 59, 7 ! 7 , and at a boiling temperature, 

 2. J s of its weight of cholesterin. It is very slightly soluble in oil 

 of turpentine, but may be united to the fixed oils by fusion. 



It does not dissolve in sulphuric acid, but gives the liquid a 

 yellow colour. It then becomes viscid, and swims on the sur- 

 face of the acid in the form of a pitchy mass, while at the same 

 time sulphurous acid is evolved. The decomposition goes on still 

 more rapidly when the acid is heated. Nitric acid converts it 

 into cholesteric acid and artificial tannin. 



Cholesterin was subjected to an ultimate analysis by Chevreulf 

 and by Couerbe,J and by Pelletier, who found it composed of, 



Chevreul. Couerbe. Pelletier. 



Carbon, 85-095 84-b95 83.37 



Hydrogen, - 11-880 12-099 13-32 

 Oxygen, - 3-025 3-006 3-31 



100-000 100-000 100-00 



The smallest number of atoms which corresponds with thi& 

 analysis is the following : 



38 atoms carbon, 28-5 or per cent. 85-07 



32 atoms hydrogen, = 4'0 ... 11*94 



1 atom oxygen, =1-0 ... 2-99 



33-5 100.00 



* Chevreul; Jour, de Pbysiologie, iv. 257. f Surles Corps Gras, p. 15 

 | Ann. de Chim. et de Phys. Ivi. 183. Ibid. li. 188. 



