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254 MR. G. FOWNES ON THE ARTIFICIAL 



(1.) (2.) (3.) 



Carbon 6273 grs. 6211 grs. 6214 grs. 



Hydrogen 4-40 grs. 4*22 grs. 4*24 grs. 



Oxygen 32-87 grs. 33-67 grs. 33-62 grs. 



100-00 10000 10000 



The formula CisHgOg, calculated to 100 parts, gives numbers almost coincident 

 with the above, viz. — 



Carbon .... 6250 

 Hydrogen ... 4*17 

 Oxygen. . . . 33-33 



100-00 



The following is a summary of the chief properties of the oil : — 



When free from water and freshly rectified, it is nearly colourless, but after a few- 

 hours acquires a brownish tint, which eventually deepens almost to blackness ; when 

 in contact with water, or when not purposely rendered anhydrous, it seems less 

 subject to change, and merely assumes a yellow colour. Its odour resembles that of 

 a mixture of bitter almond oil, and oil of cassia, but has less fragrancy. The specific 

 gravity of this substance at 60° is ri68 ; it boils at 323° Fahr., and distils at that 

 temperature without alteration. Cold water dissolves the oil in question to a very 

 large extent ; by distillation, and fractioning the products, it can be again separated. 

 In alcohol it dissolves with perfect facility. Concentrated sulphuric acid dissolves 

 it in the cold with magnificent purple colour ; the solution is decomposed by water, 

 with separation of the oil. If heated with the acid, it is charred and destroyed with 

 evolution of sulphurous acid. Strong hydrochloric acid behaves in a very similar 

 manner. Nitric acid, by the aid of a little heat, attacks the oil with prodigious 

 violence, evolving copious red fumes, and generating oxalic acid, which appears to 

 be the only product. 



Solution of caustic potash, in the cold, slowly dissolves the oil, forming a deep 

 brown liquid, from which acids precipitate resinous matter ; by the aid of heat, the 

 same change ensues very rapidly. Metallic potassium was found to be slowly acted 

 upon by the cold oil, but on slightly elevating the temperature, an explosion took 

 place, attended by a voluminous flame and a large deposit of soot, my hand being at 

 the same time severely burned by a portion of the projected potassium. 



The most remarkable and characteristic reaction of this substance, however, is with 

 ammonia. When placed in contact with five or six times its bulk of ordinary liquor 

 ammonice, and left some hours, it is gradually, but in the end completely converted 

 into a solid, yellowish-white, and somewhat crystalline mass, which is very bulky, and 

 perfectly insoluble in cold water. It may be easily collected on a filter, drained from 

 the ammoniacal mother-liquor, and dried in vacuo over a surface of oil of vitriol. This 

 substance appears to be the only product of the action of ammonia on the volatile oil. 



