TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION B. 



68^ 



The products of resolution of cane sugar under these conditions are therefore 

 approximately per two molecules of the compound (C,,JI.,oOi J : acetic acid, 

 4 molecules ; oxalic acid, 1 molecule ; carbonic acid, 13 molecules ; gaseous carton 

 compound, 1 molecule ; hydrogen, lOH.^. The other carbohydrates will be simi- 

 larly investigated. 



While reserving a complete account of the research until further advanced, it 

 is sufficiently estabhshed that all the carbohydrates investigated break down 

 similarly, that acetic acid is the main product of the resolution, and that the 

 CO-CH,, grouping is an important factor of the stability of the molecules of these 

 compounds, and survives this very drastic process of resolution. 



9. On the Molecular Volumes of Organic Substances in Dilute Solution. 

 Bij W. W. J. NicoL, B.Sc. 



In 1883 the author found that when dilute solutions of the sodium salts or 

 formic, acetic, and butyric acids were compared the differences between their 

 molecular volumes were approximately constant per CH.,. Thus : — 



Sodium butyrate 

 „ acetate 

 „ formiate 



^'■*^\ 27-4 



40-05/ \^;.* 



2519 J 



CH., 



13-7 

 14'J 



The sodium butyrate was not quite pure, containing acetate, so that the probable 

 volume of CH„ in aqueous solution was 15. 



During the past year the author has returned to tbis point, and it is his inten- 

 tion to fully examine a series of organic bodies in various solvents with the 

 object of ascertaining the apparent volumes of 0, H, 0, &c., in organic bodies. The 

 work is at present only in the preliminary stage, but the results are such as to 

 encourage him to proceed with it. 



Solutions of the commoner compound ethers in benzol, xylol, and rectified 

 spirits have been prepared and their densities determined. The solutions were 

 made by dissolving weighed quantities of the ethers in known amounts of the 

 solvents, and the densities were determined at 20° 0. 



From this as an approximation we have : — 



Further, 



Amyl benzoate in benzol = 191*9 



Ethyl „ „ = 142-4 



3(CH.,) = 49-5 



or CH., in benzol here = 16-5 



