DIMETHYL-PHENOLS. 299 



Paracresol-methylether, C 7 H 7 .O.CH 3 . Colorless 

 liquid boiling at 174. Is oxidized to anisic acid by 

 chromic acid. 



Paracresol-ethylether, C 7 H 7 .O.C 2 H 5 . Colorless 

 liquid ; boiling point, 188. 



Paracresol-acetate, C 7 H 7 .O.C 2 H 3 0. Liquid ; boil- 

 ing point, 208-211. 



(PTT 3 

 gj| Is produced 



by the action of nitrous acid on paratoluidin. Yellow 

 crystals, that fuse at 84. 



The cresol contained in coal-tar and wood-tar to- 

 gether with phenol is liquid, and does not congeal. It 

 is either ortho- or meta-cresol, or more probably a mix- 

 ture of two or all three of the cresols. 



3. Phenols, C 8 H 10 0. 

 a. Dimethyl-phenols (Xylenols). 



Of the many modifications possible according to the 

 theory, only three are as yet known 



1. Solid Xylenol j(Metaxylene-phenol). Is pro- 

 duced together with the following compound, when 

 the mixture of mcta- and paraxylene, that is obtained 

 from coal-oil, is converted into sulpho-acids by dissolv- 

 ing in sulphuric acid, and the potassium salts of these 

 acids melted with caustic potassa. It is also produced 

 by heating oxymesitylic acid with caustic potassa. 

 Colorless crystals ; fusing points, 75 ; boiling point, 

 216. 



2. Liquid Xylenol. Is produced together with the 

 preceding compound. Colorless liquid, boiling point, 

 211.5. 



