22 Product of action of Nitric acid on Woody Fibre. 
The behavior of alkaline solutions of both substances toward 
bases is, as far as observed, similar. The silver, lead and copper 
salts, for instance, possess a similar appearance. 
Hither substance treated with hydrochloric acid, imparts a red 
color to the liquid. Sulphuric acid acts similarly, at the same 
time blackening the substance and giving off the color of cara- 
mel. ith moderately dilute nitric acid their action is different. 
The pectic acid is partially transformed into mucic acid, which 
separates on cooling as a white crystalline powder, and is further 
recognizable by its insolubility in alcohol and its difficult solu- 
bility in water. This action was observed by Frémy. Chod- 
new obtained no mucic acid, probably because too concentrated 
acid was employed. The substance from wood, boiled with acid 
of the same concentration, is gradually transformed into oxalic 
acid ; the solution yields no precipitate on cooling. 
The substance employed in the following analyses was dried 
at 212°, then p ilverized and afterward dried again at 212°, until 
there was no farther loss of weight. It contained no trace of 
. hitrogen. 
Its per-centage of ash was determined in two portions. 
I. 05390 grm. yielded ash, 00020 grm. =00-37 per cent. 
If. 0-4768  “ e * 00018 “ =00-38 per cent. 
Mean, - - - - ~ 00-375 per cent. 
Three combustions of the substance were made with chromate 
of lead. The results were as follows: 
I. 0°5583 grm. yielded 0°3847, CO, and 0-2925, HO. 
If. 03531 “ Wi eosO,. . “0-1 O 
III. 0-4602 “ {ee §. OF 
The composition in hundred parts, calculated from these anal- 
yses, taking the ash into account, is as follows: 
I. 1. % Il. 
GC’. | B38 eee. 43-16 
H : Son =. ‘o7 5: 
a wre 50°39 ~~} 51-06 
The formula C,, H,, O,, expresses very accurately this com- 
ition : 3 
Mean of analyses. Calculated from formula. 
43:393 ; : 43°44 
C 
H . ‘ 5863 : : 5°88 
O . : 50°744 ‘ ‘ 50°68 
The only grounds presented in Prof. Sace’s paper for believing 
that the substance analyzed by him was pectic acid, are its ap- 
pearance, its ready solubility while yet moist in ammonia, and its 
property of being precipitated from this solution by acids. Its 
ye 
A 
he. 
