298 CRESOLS. 



sulphurous acid (p. 270) with water at 130. Long, 

 shiny, four-sided needles. Insoluble in water and alka- 

 lies, easily soluble in ether and hot alcohol. Fuses at 

 36. 



2. Cresols. 



a. Orthocresol. Is obtained by melting potassium 

 orthosulphotoluenate with caustic potassa, dissolving 

 the mass in acids, and exhausting with ether. Limpid 

 liquid ; boiling point, 188-190 ; does not congeal at a 

 low temperature. Heated for a long time with caustic 

 potassa, it is converted into salicylic acid. 



b. Metacresol. Is produced together with propy- 

 lene gas by heating thymol (p. 300) with phosphoric 

 anhydride. The product, that consists chiefly of cre- 

 sol-phosphate, is decomposed by means of potassium 

 hydroxide, the mass acidified and exhausted with 

 ether. Colorless liquid of an odor like that of phenol. 

 Boiling point, 195-200. Does not congeal even in a 

 mixture of solid carbonic anhydride and ether. Fused 

 with caustic potassa it is converted into oxybenzoic 

 acid. 



Metacresol-ethylether, C 7 H 7 .O.C 2 IR Is prepared 

 like phenol-ethylether. Liquid, of boiling point 188- 

 191. 



c. Paracresol. Is prepared from parasulphotoluenic 

 acid like orthocresol. Is also produced by boiling with 

 water the diazotoluene sulphate obtained from parato- 

 luidin (p. 277.) Colorless prisms of a phenol odor, 

 reminding of decayed urine ; fusing point, 36 ; boiling 

 point, 198 ; very difficultly soluble in water. The 

 aqueous solution gives a blue color with iron chloride. 

 Fusing caustic potassa converts it into paraoxybenzoic 

 acid. 



