TEGETjIfBLE WAX FROM BRAZIL* J7 



As s-ome of the difficultly soluble resins are more easily Effect of cam- 

 dissolved in alcohol, to which a small proportion of camphor P^^<^r. 

 1ms been added, 1 endeavoured to ascertain, whether the 

 fixed oils were rendered more soluble by the same means, 

 but found, that this was not the case, excepting with regard 

 to castor oil, which, although very sparingly dissolved by 

 alcohol of a spec, grav. above 0-840% becomes abundantly 

 soluble, by the addition of one part of camphor, to eight 

 parts of the alcohol. 



JBoihng alcohol, spec. grav. 0*840, takes up a considerable Heat increases 

 portion of castor oil and of linseed oil; it also dissolves a pc^^^j^of^^co. 

 smallquantity of the oils of almonds and of olives ; but they hoi. 

 aVe copiously deposited during the cooling of the alcohol, 

 and only a small portion retained iri permanent solution. 



When water is added to any of these solutions of the fixed Water piecipi- 

 oils in ether, and in alcohol, a milky mixture is formed, and ^^^^l solutions 

 the oil gradually separates upon the surface, without having 

 underg©ne any apparent alteration. 



6. One hundred grains of the wax were boiled for half Action of pot'« 

 an h-our in a solution of caustic potash, spec. grav. I'Ogo. ,^x: 



The solution acquired a pale rose colour, but appeared to 

 exert no farther action on the wax, which, after having been 

 washed with warm water, retained its fusibility and other 

 properties. No combination therefore, similar to a soap, 

 was produced ; nor was any precipitate occasioned by the 

 addition of acids to the rose coloured alkaline solution. 



7. The effects produced by boiling the wax in solutions of of soda and 

 pure soda, and of the subcarbonates of soda and of potash, '"'^'^ alkalis-. 

 were analogous to those of the caustic potash. 



8. Solutions of pure and of carbonated ammonia exert of ammonia: 

 scarcely any action on the wax. 



9. When the wax is boiled in nitric aCid, spec. grav. 1*45. of nitric acid. 

 there is some escape of nitrous gas, and the colour of the 



wax is gradually changed to a deep yellow. 



When the wax is removed from the acid, and washed with 

 hot water, it is found to have become more brittle and hard, 

 but it still retains much of its peculiar odour. 



In this state it remains Insoluble in the alkalis, but they 

 now change its colour to a very bright brown, which is de- 



A'^oi-.XXXI.— Jan. U12. Q atroyed 



