Ryan — The Analysis of Beestvax. 215 



petroleum-ether extract consists solely of ester, is 650, whereas that of 

 niyricin (myricyl palmitate) is 676. 



If myrioin has a molecular weight — 676 — agreeing with formula 

 O15H31 OOOOsoHei, cerotic acid a molecular weight 396, and if the average 

 Acid and Ester Numbers for beeswax be Acid Number 20, Ester 

 Number 75, then 100 grammes of beeswax should contain 14-11 per cent. 

 of cerotic acid, and 90"36 per cent, of myricin, making a total of 104-47 per 

 cent. ; so that it is obvious, as the gravimetric estimation indicated, that the 

 molecular weight of myricin (beeswax ester) must be less tlian 676. If in 

 addition beeswax contains about 13 per cent, of hydrocarbons, and 13'32 per 

 cent, of free acids, then the percentage of ester in the wax will not be more 

 than 73-68 ; and as the mean Ester Number is 74-825, tlie molecular weight 

 of the ester will be only 554. 



If the extract obtained by Buisine's method consists of hydrocarbons, 

 and the combined acid of beeswax be palmitic, the molecular weight of 

 " myricyl " alcohol is only 316, corresponding to the formula C21H43OH. 

 On the other hand, the oxidation of myricyl alcohol to melissic acid shows 

 that the formula for the alcohol is CsoHboO (molecular weight 438). Further 

 experiments will be made witli Buisine's apparatus, to determine the cause of 

 the apparent disagreement, which is probably due to the presence of alcohols 

 (other than primary) whieli are not converted into salts of the corresponding 

 acids when heated to 250° 0. with potash-lime. 



SCIENT. PROC E.D.S., VOL. XII., NO. XXI. 2n 



