Chemistry and Physics. 383 
nthe Preparation of Active Amyl alecohol—In sg tudying 
the cause of the anomaly presented by a chloride of rotating 
to the left, as distinguished from the iodide and bromide, which 
rotate to the right, t, Le Bet found that the amyl chloride obtained 
by saturating the crude product of the distillation of amyl alcohol 
with aqueous hydrochloric acid, by hydrochloric acid gas and again 
rectifying, was optically inactive. Assuming that this result was 
products of the conversion of amyl] alcohol into chloride are much 
the more optically active; as also must be the alcohol from which 
they are derived. To prove this, a portion of amyl alcohol rotat- 
ing |° 58 to the left was treated Merona with hydrochloric 
acid gas, until nine-tenths of it had been removed as chloride. 
The remaining tenth rotated 4° 32’, being 32’ more than the alcohol 
obtained by Pasteur. The boiling point of this alcohol was 127°, 
and that of its chloride 98°. The author attributes the very dif- 
ferent rotatory powers ascribed to the amyl compound ethers, to 
the presence of these two alcohols in the original substance used, 
with one of which certain acids unite more peo than with 
other.— Bull. Soe. Chim., Ul, xxi, 542, June 1874. G. 
3 On a new method of preparation v Sali eylic Acid. _Wis 
ing to investigate more thoroughly the sliaiastee of er er 7 moery 
asserted by him several years ago to be an isomer o acid 
sodium ne el ey Kolbe was led at once to dais 230 a new and 
simpler method of sesireied — acid; a method too, appli- 
wae * 
This powder, which is sodium phenylate, is then heated in an oil 
or air-bath, best in a metallic retort, to 100° and dry carbonic gas 
* The manufacture of salicylic acid on a commercial scale by this process has 
been undertaken by Dr. von Heyden 3 in Dresden. Kol Ibe refers chemists 
ilege for a year from 
this ; fall of working upon salicylic and paraoxy ids in this connection. 
