348 PARA-OXYBENZOIC ACID. 



cylic acid, more easily in hot water and in alcohol. 

 Fuses at 210, but decomposes partially even at this 

 temperature, forming carbonic anhydride and phenol. 

 Its solution gives a yellow, amorphous precipitate with 

 iron chloride, soluble in an excess of the reagent. 

 Treated with phosphorus chloride it yields parachlor- 

 benzoyl chloride. 



iOH 

 CO CH 3 is 



obtained by heating equal molecules of paraoxybenzoic 

 acid, potassium hydrate, and methyl iodide to 120. 

 Crystallizes from ether in large tablets; fuses at 17, 

 and boils at 283. 



{OH 

 CO C 2 H 5 is 



prepared like the methyl ether. Colorless, crystalline 

 mass; fuses at 113, and boils at 297; but slightly 

 soluble in water, easily soluble in alcohol. With soda- 

 ley it yields a solid, easily soluble sodium compound. 



Methylpara-oxybenzoic acid (Anisic acid), 

 Q8JJ8Q3 __ Q6jj4 J j g obtained from 



benzoic acid in the same way as methyloxybenzoic 

 acid from oxybenzoic acid. Is further produced by the 

 oxidation of anisic aldehyde and anethol (cf. p. 324) 

 with nitric acid or a mixture of potassium bichromate 

 and dilute sulphuric acid ; and by the oxidation of 

 paracresol-methylether (p. 299) with potassium bi- 

 chromate and dilute sulphuric acid. Large, colorless 

 prisms. Almost insoluble in cold water, easily soluble 

 in alcohol ; fuses at 175 ; sublimes ; its salts are almost 

 all soluble in water, and crystallize well. Heated with 

 hydriodic or hydrochloric acids it yields paraoxyben- 

 zoic acid and methyl iodide or chloride. Fusing 

 potassium hydroxide converts it into paraoxybenzoic 

 acid. Heated with lime or baryta it is resolved into 

 anisol (p. 291) and carbonic anhydride. 



