to Trioxybutyric Acid. 341 



Reduction of Calcium Trioxybutyrate by Hydriodic Acid and 



Phosphorus. 



Fifteen grams of calcium trioxybutyrate were heated for 

 8 hours on a sand bath with 130 c.c. of hydriodic acid, b.p. 127°, 

 and 5 grams of amorphous phosphorus. The brown liquid was 

 diluted with an equal volume of water and shaken with ether. 

 On evaporation of the ether a brown oil was left, which was 

 treated with dilute sulphuric acid and zinc dust, and then distilled 

 in a current of steam. The distillate was neutralised with calcium 

 carbonate and the filtrate, after concentration on the water bath 

 in a vacuum, was treated with silver nitrate. The silver salt pre- 

 cipitated was silver butyrate, which was confirmed by its peculiar 

 odour and by a silver determination. 



"2435 gram silver salt gave "1345 gram silver; °/ Ag = 55'4 ; 



•1708 „ „ -0948 „ %Ag = 55-5; 



calculated for (C 4 H 7 2 ) Ag = 55*3. 



25—2 



