Ryan — The Analysis of Beeswax. 



213 



hydrogen at normal temperature and pressure liberated by heating one 

 gramme of the wax with potash-lime to 250^0., the percentage of hydro- 

 carbons in it, and the mean molecular weight of the combined acids, in 

 addition to the Acid, Ester, and Iodine Numbers, and the percentage of 

 glycerine obtainable from it. 



The following results were got with samples of beeswax' from widely 

 different portions of the Earth's surface, and show that genuine beeswax is 

 fairly constant in composition : — 



Having found, in conjunction with Mr. T. Dillon (see previous 

 communication), that purified montanic acid, which occurs in the free state 

 in Montana (Montan) wax, has a molecular weight higher than that of 

 cerotic acid, it was obvious that by addition of stearic acid, whose molecular 

 weight is lower than that of cerotic acid, to Montana wax the mean 

 molecular weight of the free acids could be made equal to that of cerotic 

 acid, and that by addition of the required quantities of spermaceti, carnauba 

 wax, and ceresiue, a composition wax could be prepared having Acid, Ester, 

 Eatio, and Iodine Numbers identical with those of beeswax, and, moreover, 

 containing a mixture of free acids having a mean molecular weight equal to 

 that of cerotic acid. 



Such a mixture was made by melting together 2 grammes of Montana 

 wax, 0-3 gramme of stearic acid (pure), 5 grammes of spermaceti, I'S 



1 The author is indebted to Mr. J. G. Rathborne for several of the samples of waxes described in 

 this and the previous communication. 



