330 Dr. Smith on the Composition of Spermaceti. 



Exp. 1. 0.525 gram, of this salt when burnt gave 0.294 gram, 

 silver. 



Exp. 2. 0.612 gram, of this salt when burnt gave 0.343 gram, 

 silver. 



These give in 100 parts — * 



1. 56.01 silver, or 60.00 oxide of silver. 



2. 56.05 " 60.19 " " 

 Burnt with the bioxide of copper : 



Exp. 1. 0.708 gram, silver salt gave 0.582 gram, carbonic acid, 

 and 0.174 gram, water, 



Exp. 2. 0.787 gram, of silver salt gave 0.6465 gram, carbonic 

 acid, and 0.190 gram, water. 



These experiments give the following per centage. 



1. 2. Mean. 



Carbon, 22.56 22.60 22.58 



Hydrogen, 2.68 2.68 2.68 



Oxygen, 14.67 14.63 14.65 



Oxide of silver, 60.09 60.09 60.09 



100.00 100.00 100.00 



Out of this, the following formula of a bibasic salt is calculated. 



In 100 parts. 



Atomic weight. Calculated. Found. 



14 ats. Carbon, 84.95 22.18 22.58 



10 " Hydrogen, 10.00 2.66 2.68 



7 " Oxygen, 56.00 14.65 14.65 



2 " Oxide of silver, 232.25 60.51 60.09 



383.20 100.00 100.00 



This formula agrees with that of adipinate of silver, as made 

 out by Bromeis, with the unimportant difference of one atom of 

 hydrogen, and its physical properties and reactions are the same 

 as adipinic acid : I consider it as such. 



None of the other acids afforded by the oxidation of sperma- 

 ceti, have been obtained in state of sufficient purity to be exam- 

 ined. There is however one among them, whose copper and 

 zinc salts are more soluble in cold than in warm water, and if a 

 solution of either of them be heated a precipitate is formed, which 

 redissolves upon cooling ; this phenomenon is most striking in the 

 zinc salt. Those portions of the examination of this subject 

 that are as yet incomplete, I propose finishing at some future time. 



Paris, April 29, 1842. 



