The Typical Cellulose and the Cellulose Group 41 



On treatment with concentrated nitric and sulphuric acids, 

 both the tri- and tetra- nitrates are converted into penta-nitrate 

 and hexa-nitrate. Potash and ammonia convert them into di- 

 nitrate. 



Cellulose di-nitrate, C 12 H 18 O 8 (NO 3 )2, is formed by the 

 action of alkalis on the other nitrates, and also by the action 

 of hot dilute nitric acid on cellulose. The di-nitrate is very 

 soluble in alcohol-ether, acetic ether, and in absolute alcohol. 

 Further action of alkalis on the di-nitrate results in a complete 

 decomposition of the molecule, some organic acids and tarry 

 matters being formed. (See infra.) 



The above account of the cellulose nitrates may be regarded 

 as representing a fair digest of the extensive literature of the 

 subject, so far as regards the composition and properties of the 

 more important and definite products. A better grasp of the 

 relationship of these products to one another and to the parent 

 molecule will be obtained from the researches of Vieille 

 (Compt. Rend. 95, 132), a short account of which follows. 

 From the title of this author's communication, ' Sur les degres 

 de la nitrification limites de la cellulose,' it may be concluded 

 that it is a study of the nitrations of cellulose (cotton) under 

 the condition of progressive variations, with the view of 

 determining the maximum fixation of the nitric group cor- 

 responding to such variations. The most important factor 

 of the process is the concentration of the nitric acid, which 

 was the variant investigated. The temperature was kept con- 

 stant 11 C. and the nitrating acid (nitric acid only) was 

 employed in very large excess (100-150 times the weight of 

 cellulose), so as to avoid disturbance of the results by rise 

 of temperature or by dilution of the acid. The products 

 were analysed by Schlresing's method, and the analyses are 

 expressed in cc. NO (gas) (at o and 760 mm.) per i grm. of 

 substance. 



