58 THE THEORY OF IONS 



The Fats are derivatives of the hydrocarbons, 

 whence they are called the Aliphatic or fatty series. 

 The alcohols are also derived from them by one or 

 more OH ions displacing or being substituted in the 

 link for the same number of H atoms, and the 

 molecule is oxidised. Thus : 



Methane, CH 4 + OH = H + CH 4 O, Methyl alcohol. 



Ethane, C 2 H 6 + OH = H + C 2 H 6 0, Ethyl alcohol. 

 C 2 H 6 + 20H = H 2 + C 2 H 6 2 , Ethylene al- 

 cohol or Glycol. 



Propane, C 3 H 8 + 30H = 3H + C 3 H 8 3 , Glycerine or 



triacid alcohol. 



Butane, C 4 H 10 + 40H = 2H 2 + C 4 H 10 4 , Butyl alco- 

 hol. 



Hexane, C 6 H 14 + 60H = 3H 2 + C 6 H 14 6 , Mannite. 



Alcohol, radicals are formed by removing one OH 

 from each carbon atom in the structure ; such 

 radicals are monad, dyad or triad ions according to 

 the number of valencies thus liberated. They do 

 not exist in a free state, but migrate to join other 

 compounds by dehydrating them, when free OH 

 ions do not exist to satisfy their craving. It is in 

 this manner that ethers are formed from two mole- 

 cules of alcohol, the one losing OH and the other H 

 to form a molecule of water. Monovalent alcohol- 

 radicals are called alkyls, and divalent ones alkylenes. 



Although the hydrocarbon is oxidised by the 

 OH ion to alcohol, the influence of OH ions upon the 

 molecule is not ended ; it can abstract more H atoms 

 from it. If the action of the OH ion be upon a 

 primary alcohol the result is the formation of an 

 aldehyde. 



