PALM OIL. l53 



Palm-oil Is also readily dissolved by the oil of turpentine, at the 



temperatuie of the atmosphere. 



The action of caustic pot-ash upon palm oil Is similar to Palm-oil has 



that which takes place between the alkalies and other bodies of {5^^ attraction 



' _ tor pot-ash 



an alcaginous nature. After being boiled together for some than olive-oil. 



time, they form an opake and semifluid mass, miscibie with 



water without decomposition, but which is slowly decomposed 



by the addition of an acid. In this latter case, the oil rises to 



the surface in small flushe', hnviug lo:^t its original colour and 



jmell. The same effect, although in a less degree is produced 



hy the action of ammoniac upon pahn-oil. Palm-oil, however, 



exhibits less affinity for the alkalies than oliveoil, 



Pakn oil does not appear to be soluble in mineral acids. Action of the 

 After being heated for some time in contact with Ihem, it was nlJic^acids. 

 left floating on the surface of the fluid, and, upon saturating v^ 



the acids with an alkal:, no precipitation was produced. The 

 oil had, however, undergone a considerable change in its ap- 

 pearance and properties, from the operation of the sulphuric 

 jmd nitric acids. In the former case, it had lost its specific 

 smell; it was of a grey colour; and v/as considerably less 

 unctuous than before the experiment. Upon being immersed 

 in boiling water, it appeared to consist of two substances, of a 

 white friable matter, which was diffused through the water, 

 and had partly lost it- oleaginous nature, and some small drops 

 of a blackish oil. The effect produced by the sulphuric acid 

 seemed to be sim.ilar to that which is described by Mr. 

 Hatchett, in his valuable papers on the production of tan- 

 ning*. 



The oil that had been heated in contact v^'^ilh nitric acid was oxidation by 

 also considerably changed : it was of a dirty colour, of a much nitric acid, 

 firmer texture than in its natural state, and had acquired a 

 smell resembling that of melted wax. The appearance of this 

 substance seeming to coincide with the prevailing theory re- 

 specting the oxidation of oil, I was induced to examine how 

 far it resembled wax in its chemical properties. First, in order 

 to ascertain its melting point, a quantity of it was completely 

 fUsed at a temperature of 11 0*. It was then gradually cooled ; 

 and when it had arrived at the 7 2d degree, it began to grow 

 opake at the edges ; at the 69th degree it had entirely lost its 

 R 2 transparency; 



* Phil. Trans. 1805, p. 11, and alibi. 



