CHEMISTBY. 81 



calculated for alumina and glucina, the numbers 151 and 160 are found, which agree 

 very closely. 



According to the formula G + the atomic volume would be 52'3, and this 

 should agree with that of magnesia. If this latter earth be heated in a porcelain 

 furnace it is obtained in a crystalline form, and exactly similar in its properties to 

 the pericluse from Vesuvius. Its specific gravity is 3.6 ( .)i, and its volume 71. The 

 oxide of nickel, examined by Genth, has the same volume. Hence there is no 

 analogy between these two oxides and glucina. From these and other reasons 

 Rose does not consider that the decomposition of ammociacal salts by glucina war- 

 rants any alteration in the present formula. 



Alcoholic i tan. — Hermann has obtained Butylic mercaptan 



C 8 H 10 S-, analogous in its properties to the rest of the class. 



Benzoic Alcohol. — Cannizzaro, by acting on toluene (derived from commercial 

 benzine) with chlorine, has obtained the monochlorinated toluene which is identical 

 with chloride of benzcethyle, when this is treated with acetate of potash, acetate 

 of benzcethyle is formed, which with potash give benzoic alcohol U l+ II 8 0-. — 

 By means of the monochlorinated toluene, and cyanide of potassium, cyanide of 

 benzcethyle is readily obtained, and this with caustic potash yields toluic acid, a 

 compound belonging to a higher series. 



Propi/lic Alcohol. — Dusart produces propylene by the deoxidation of acetone ; 

 this is effected by distilling gradually a mixture of equivalent portions of acetate 

 of lime, and oxalate of potash, dried as carefully as possible. The propylene in 

 conducted into broaiine, and the bromide of propylene purified by distillation. By 

 the action of an alcoholic solution of potash, the compound C 6 H 5 Br is obtained, 

 which, heated with sulphocyanide of potassium, gives the oil of mustard. If the 

 propylene be conducted into sulphuric acid and the product distilled with water, 

 propylic alcohol is formed, as in Berthelot's process for forming common alcohol 

 from oiefiant gas. 



Alcohol. — Marx has shown that the formation of alcohol from oiefiant gas and 

 sulphuric acid, lately proved by Berthelot, was described twenty-seven years ago by 

 Hennel, in his paper on the formation of ether. 



Bhulpliocyanide of ozlhcrine. — Sonnenschein has succeeded in replacing the chlo- 

 rine in the chloride of cetherme by sulphocyanogen, produciug a compound homo- 

 logous with oil of mustard. 



Ami/lie AlcohoL-^-TAStenr has found that amylic alcohol consisls of two bodies, 

 which he calls active and inactive alcohols, the one possesses a rotatory power on the 

 plane of polarization, the other possesses none. The alcohols cannot be separated 

 directly, but the sulphamylate of baryta is found to consist of two salts, one of which 

 is 2 \ times more soluble than the other, the soluble one yields the active alcohol. 



Sugars — Berthelot has re-examined the sugar of the Eucalyptus, and gives to 

 the crystalline manna-like substance the name of Melitose. It does not act upon 

 oxide of copper until after boiling with sulphuric acid, it is capable of fermentation 

 but yields half its weight of a body, which is incapable of fermenting even after treat- 

 ment with sulphuric acid, and which he calls Eucalyne. He has also examined a 

 peculiar kind of sugar, said to be derived from the Pinus Lambertiana of California, 

 he calls it Finite, it is insusceptible of fermentation, and does not reduce oxide of 

 copper. 



Propionic Acid. — Eimpricht and Von Uslar have endeavoured to prove that 

 butyracetic acid is distinct from propionic, and that it is decomposed under certain 



P 



