SUGAR, MOLASSES, CONFECTIONS, AND HONEY. 



853 



at atmospheric pressure, the two stopcocks are closed and the receiving flask is filled 

 with water. The stopcock is then opened which connects the flask with the interior 

 tubulure of the receiving flask and heating takes place. The gas is collected in the 

 superior part of this flask. When the evolution of hydrogen stops the heating of the 

 flask ceases, and it is left to cool by opening the cock by which the flask communi- 

 cates with the upper part of the vessel and by closing the other. When the tempera- 

 ture has reached that at which the operation was commenced, the stopcock is closed 

 and the gas evolved is driven out into a graduated tube, its volume and temperature 

 noted, and likewise the barometric pressure. One has thus exactly the volume of gas 

 disengaged in the reaction and it is not necessary to take count of theair remaining in 

 the apparatus, its volume being the same as before the operation. The volume of 

 hydrogen, calculated to zero at a pressure of 7(50 millimeters, is then calculated for 1 

 gram of wax. Afterward the result is calculated into terms of melissic alcohol by 

 means of the equation, CH 2 ?i+2O-|-KOH=4II-|-KCttH.2H iO*. The proportion of 

 the melissic alcohol first found is then calculated to the amount of palmitic acid 

 previously determined. The following table indicates between what limits the re- 

 sults vary : 



In the palmitate of myricyle, the proportion of inelissic alcohol to palmitic acid is 

 1.71. 



Determination of hydrocarbons. This determination is made very easily and very 

 rapidly upon the product of the action of the potash and^of the potash lime upon the 

 wax; that is to say, upon the residue from the preceding operation. In this opera- 

 tion, indeed, all or* the acids of the wax and the alcohols themselves are transformed 

 into acids and are fixed in the state of alkaline salts. The hydrocarbons of the wax 

 alone remain free. To remove them, it is sufficient to treat the resulting mass from 

 the above reaction by an appropriate solvent ordinary ether or rectified petroleum 

 ether of a low boiling point. There is found in wax an almost constant quantity of 

 hydrocarbons. The different samples examined contained from 12.72 to 13. 7d per 

 cent. These numbers are in all cases very much above those indicated by Schwalb ; 

 according to him, wax contains only about 5 to 6 per cent of hydrocarbons ; neverthe- 

 less the hydrocarbons thus isolated are pure. They present themselves under the 

 form of a waxy mass, scarcely colored, fusible at 49. 5 ; they are soluble in ether and 

 petroleum spirit, benzine, chloroform, etc. These solutions are neutral and allow the 

 product to be deposited in the form of a crystalline mass. Treated by potash lime, 

 they evolve only a trace of hydrogen, which indicates the complete absence of alco- 

 holic products. The hydrocarbons of wax are not wholly formed from saturated 

 hydrocarbons as Schwalb has said. Those examined by the authors were capable of 

 absorbing bromine and iodine ; 100 parts of the hydrocarbon in a solution of chloro- 

 form were capable of absorbing 22.05 parts of iodine. 



General conclusions. 



Pure beeswax, melting point, 63 to 64 ; entirely soluble in hot chloroform. 



Acids of the wax. 



Free acids correspond to from 19 to. 21 milligrams potash for 1 gram of wax, or to 

 13.5 to 15.5 per cent cerotic acid. 



Total acids correspond to from 91 to 97 milligrams potash for 1 gram of wax. 

 18808 No. 13 15 



