SUGAR, MOLASSES, CONFECTIONS, AND HONEY. 827 



WAX ANALYSIS.* 



The specific gravity of yellow wax and also of the white varies between 0.956 and 

 0.964, and is on the average 0.960, although most samples are between 0.958 and 

 0.960. If the specific gravity exceeds these limits on either side it is suspicious, and 

 should the variation be great adulteration can be considered as certain. If the 

 specific gravity be above 0.964, stearic acid, Japan wax, rosin, water, heavy spar, 

 sawdust, etc., may be present. If it lies below 0.956, paraffin, ceresin or fat may be 

 present. Although the specific gravity affords some criterion for judging wax, yet 

 samples lying within the limits are not necessarily pure, as the correct specific 

 gravity can be easily obtained by double adulteration. For quantitative and quali- 

 tative work on wax the best method is that of Hiibl. 



PETROLEUM BENZINE AS A QUALITATIVE REAGENT.t 



This new method of testing depends on the behavior of beeswax toward petroleum 

 benzine. If a cylinder of beeswax is placed in a test tube, and benzine poured over 

 till it overtops it from 1 to 2 cm, the fluid gradually penetrates into the mass of wax, 

 and very small flocks or pulverulent particles separate and collect at the bottom of 

 the benzine. Finally, the whole mass disintegrates, and in an hour or two the con- 

 tents of the test tube are arranged in two layers, the lower consisting of a homo- 

 geneous layer of wax particles, the upper of clear benzine. The conduct of adul- 

 terated wax with benzine is quite different. Wax containing foreign substances 

 conducts itself with more or less resistance, according to the adulterant. Such a 

 wax cylinder remains unchanged half a day, often from two to four days. With 

 samples containing from 8 to 20 per cent of admixture, the wax cylinder swells some- 

 what more quickly, and the outside layer shows by degrees from 4 to 12 divisions 

 lengthwise, which are separated from one another by narrow, transparent, or deeply 

 shining lines. If the foreign substance is only a small per cent, flocks separate from 

 the wax a few minutes after the addition of the benzine, and after a half or a whole 

 day the wax sediment consists not of a homogeneous mass, but of flocks, interspersed 

 with broken, lengthwise columns, or fragments of columns, showing transparent 

 veins of benzine. 

 



DETECTION OF ADULTERATION IN BEESWAX. I 



When pure beeswax is chewed it breaks up in the mouth ; the adulterated acts 

 like chewing gum. 



DETECTION of STEARIC ACID. 



Boil the suspected sample with distilled water, allow to cool, and test the aqueous 

 layer with litmus. Stearic acid renders water slightly acid in reaction, which is not 

 the case with pure wax. Regnard himself says that this method is not of great value 

 as small amounts of sulphur dioxide remaining after bleaching could easily cause 

 mistake. He also proposes a modification : Heat the sample with limewater in a 

 flask having reflux condenser. With pure wax the limewater remains transparent ; 

 otherwise, a turbidity ensues and the precipitate of stearate of calcium falls. The 

 fluid reddens litmus. 



E. Geith's method || is also based on the use of limewater, but according to him 

 there is no precipitate, the fluid remaining perfectly clear, but the fluid loses its 



* H. Rottger, Chem. Zeit., 1890, 37, 606. ~" 



t H. Hager. Central Org. f. Waarenkunde, 1891, 1, 239 ; abs. Chem. Zeit. , 1891, 93, 307. 



t A B C of Bee Culture, 290. 



Regnard, Jour, de chim. med., 1844, 328. 



HDingl. polyt. Jour., 1847, 105,445. 



