56 C. G. Wheeler on the action of hypochlorous acid. 
limed without change, volatilizes somewhat even in boiling 
water and resembles ordinary camphor in taste and odor. Oxy- 
camphor is isomeric with camphinic acid dicovered by Berthelot. 
According to that chemist, ordinary camphor on being heated 
with an alcoholic solution of potassa splits up into borneol aig 
an acid which he presumed to have the composition C,,H,,0,.* 
He did not analyze the acid but explained the process of its 
formation as follows : 
2(C,,H,,0) + KOH = C,,H,,0 + C,,H,,KO, 
Camphor. Borneol. Camphinate of potassa. 
It appeared to me desirable to analyze this substance and 
eetablish | its isomeric character with oxycamphor. A quantity . 
of camphor was therefore heated with an alcoholic potassa so- 
lution in a sealed tube to 180° for 6 to 8 hours, On opening 
the tube an inflammable gas escaped. (Probable H and CH, 
from decomposed alcohol.) The contents of the tube were di- 
luted with water, the precipitated borneol and camphor filtered 
off and the filtrate completely neutralized with sulphuric acid. 
On concentrating till all the potassic sulphate had crystallized 
out, the mother-liquor was acidified with sulphuric acid, the 
precipitated camphinic acid washed ise sta dissolved in 
ether and obtained therefrom by evapor, The acid thus 
obtained corresponded completely with hat -demtibed Bs Ber- 
thelot. It was an almost solid, “fast feste,” transparent mass 
which, on account of its peculiar consistency, was very difficult 
to entire rely free from moisture, and this doubtless accounts for 
the carbon determination in the subjoined analysis being too 
low. payor there remains no doubt that the formula 
assigned to it is correct and that it is isomeric with oxycamphor. 
The results of analysis were: 0236 grm. substance, 0:610 
grm. carbonic acid, and 0-211 grm, eee 
Calculated. Found. 
c.. 120 ia ee 
oS 16 — SS 9°91 
Oo, 82 ity ere e 
Camphinate of lead, dried at 100°, a white ‘nalts wiede 
yielded the following results on analysis : 
0:1390 grm. substance gave 00787 grm. sare of lead = 
38°77 p. c. lead. The theory calls for 38 26 
Camphinic acid is perhaps capable of yie dings capric acid, | 
or some body isomeric therewi ith, on submitting it to the action 
of nascent hydrogen. 
A summary view of the established results of the foregoing 
Ane St ee oe ee oxii, 364, 
