160 SUCCINIC ACIDS. 



from a cold solution with 3 molecules, from a hot solu- 

 tion with 1 molecule, of water of crystallization. The 

 ferric salt is a brown precipitate, perfectly insoluble in 

 water. The silver salt is an amorphous white precipi- 

 tate. 



Ethyl succinate, C 4 H 4 4 (C 2 H 5 ) 2 , is obtained by con- 

 ducting hydrochloric acid gas in a hot alcoholic solu- 

 tion of succinic acid. Colorless oil, insoluble in water; 

 of specific gravity, 1.037 ; boiling point, 217. 



Monpbromsuccinic acid, C 4 H 5 Br0 4 , and Dibrom- 

 succinic acid, C 4 H 4 Br 2 4 , result, when succinic acid is 

 heated with bromine and water in sealed tubes up to 

 150-180. The former is produced in the presence of 

 a great deal of water, the latter when but little water 

 (equal parts water and succinic acid) is employed. Both 

 are crystalline acids ; monobromsuccinic acid is much 

 more easily soluble in water than the dibrominated 

 acid. A dibromsuccinic acid with somewhat different 

 properties (isodibromsuccinic acid) is formed from ma- 

 leic acid by combination with bromine. 



Amidosuccinic acid (Aspartic acid), C 4 H 7 N0 4 = 

 C 2 H 3 .E"H 2 . (CO.OH) 2 . Is contained in beet-molasses ; is 

 produced by boiling albuminous bodies with dilute 

 sulphuric acid; and by boiling asparagine with water, 

 acids, or alkalies. Small, rhombic crystals, very diffi- 

 cultly soluble in cold water, more easily soluble in hot 

 water. Combines, like glycocol, with bases and with 

 acids, forming crystallizing salts. 



Asparagine (Amidosuccinamide), C 4 H 8 N 2 3 -f 

 H 2 = C 2 H 3 NH 2 " 2 Occurs in a 



plants, in asparagus, in liquorice root, in marshmallow 

 root, in the root of scorzonera hispanica, in beets, in 



frain sprouts, in the plants of the pea, vetch, and bean 

 efore the time of blossoming. It crystallizes from the 

 expressed juice of these plants by evaporation. Color- 

 less, large crystals, difficultly soluble in alcohol. Not 



