SYNTHETICAL EESEAECHES ON ETHEES. 69 



the atomicities of a carbon atom in each, as expressed in the following formulae of acetic 

 acid : — 



Inasmuch, however, as formic acid contains only one carbon radical, the simple basy- 

 lous radical hydrogen is retained in combination with the compound chlorous radical 

 by the fourth atomicity of the carbon atom in the latter : 



H 



C^TT or 



i TT or ^ 



IHo IcOHo 



This difference in the constitution of formic acid, as compared with that of the higher 

 members of the same family, makes itself felt in numerous well known abnormal reac- 

 tions. 



The chlorous radical of the fatty acids remains unchanged throughout the entire series, 

 and it is to alterations made in the basylous radical that the separate terms of the series 

 owe their formation. 



An inspection of the above formula of acetic acid shows that its basylous radical 

 methyl contains three single atoms of hydrogen combined with a tetratomic atom of 

 carbon ; and we have proved, by the production of the synthesized acids above described, 

 that two of these atoms of hydrogen are replaceable by the alcohol radicals, the syn- 

 thesized acids standing, with regard to acetic acid, in the relations represented by the 

 following formulae : — 



fCHa fCEtHg rCMegH 



IcOHo IcOHo Leo Ho 



... . v — 



Acetic acid. Ethacetic or butyric acid. Dimethacetic acid. 



JCEtgH |CAyH2 



Leo Ho Leo Ho 



Diethacetic acid. Amylacetic or oenanthylic acid. 



Although we have not as yet obtained with certainty acids originating from the replace- 

 ment of more than two of the atoms of hydrogen in the methyl of acetic acid by alcohol 

 radicals, yet there can be little doubt that the third atom admits of a similar substi- 

 tution ; and we have, in fact, obtained indications of the formation of acids depending 

 upon this threefold replacement — an operation which, if carried out with amyl, would 

 obviously produce triamyl-acetic acid, possessing the composition of margaric acid : 



17 J4 2 [qqj 



3 



Ho 



* Ho = hydroxyl or peroxide of hydrogen = HO. 

 MDCCCLXVI. L 



