3 10 Dr. Smith on the Composition of Spermaceti. 



Out of this the following formula is calculated. 



• In 100 parts. 

 A.toms Atomic weight. Calculated. Found. 



32 Carbon, 194.18 53.16 53.00 



31 Hydrogen, 31.00 8.48 8.47 



3 Oxygen, 24.00 6.57 6.83 



1 Oxide of silver, 116.13 31.79 31.70 



365.31 100.00 100.00* 



The anhydrous acid is constituted as follows : 



Atoms. Atomic weight. In 100 parts. 



, 32 Carbon, . . 194.18 77.92 



31 Hydrogen, . . 31.00 12.44 



3 Oxygen, . . 24.00 9.64 



249.18 100.00 



The atomic weight of this acid, found by burning the silver 

 salt, was 250.24. The acid not in combination with a base, con- 

 tains one atom of water, and has for its composition- 



258.18 100.00 100.00 



After the results afforded by these analyses, it is impossible to 

 confound this acid with margaric acid, and particularly too, as its 

 composition agrees with that of another acid described by Dumas 

 and Stass, under the name of athalic acid, and which they ob- 

 tained by acting upon athal with potash, at a temperature of 

 from 390° to 410° F. The acid then which has just been de- 

 scribed, and which was obtained from the saponification of sper- 

 maceti, is athalic acid. 



The athal that Chevreul mentions as being the base of sperma- 

 ceti, and related to it, as glycerine is to the other fats, was found 

 to be of the same nature that he describes it to be. 



379.44 100.00 



