SUNLIGHT UPON METHYL ALCOHOL. 67 
a small amount of sulphuric acid and the other from Parke, 
Davis & Co., Detroit, contained traces of sulphuric acid and 
about 0.4 per cent acetanilide. No differences were observed 
in the effect of the two varieties. The strength of the hydrogen 
peroxide varied from 0.65 to 2.8 per cent. 
Various concentrations of methyl! alcohol, water, and hydrogen 
peroxide were experimented with and, at every concentration 
employed, reactions for formaldehyde were obtained. 
Very early in the work it was observed that tests for formal- 
dehyde could be obtained with dilute solutions when concen- 
trated solutions failed. This was soon traced to the interference 
of hydrogen peroxide with both the Leach and Hehner tests 
for formaldehyde.** Rimini’s test is apparently not effected by 
- the presence of hydrogen peroxide. 
The reaction between hydrogen peroxide and methyl alcohol 
proceeds at temperatures below 100°. I have been able to detect 
small amounts of formaldehyde on mixing the two liquids at 
room temperature and testing the mixture after about five 
minutes. The Rimini reaction is always positive under such 
conditions, while the two milk reactions, Leach’s and Hehner’s, 
are not obtained until after the hydrogen peroxide is decom- 
posed by a reducing agent or a catalyzer. For this purpose I 
have employed sodium acid sulphite, finely divided metals, and 
hydrogen sulphide. It is, of course, realized that catalyzers 
introduce a complication since by their action the oxidation may 
_ be facilitated, but in view of the fact that the Rimini reaction 
is positive and from the other results of this work, I believe 
the conclusion is justified that methyl alcohol and hydrogen 
peroxide react with each other to produce formaldehyde. 
Kahlbaum’s methyl alcohol purified as described under the 
third method was first employed. 
Three tubes were sealed as follows: 
TABLE IV.—Showing contents of tubes sealed October 19, 1911. 
No. Methyl Water. Hydrogen 
* lalcohol. peroxide. 
ce. cc. ce. 
3 5 10 2 
il 5 5 2 
15 5 0 2 
“See the following paper, p. 77, on the interference of hydrogen 
peroxide with the milk tests for formaldehyde. 
