M. Friedel on the Conversion of Acetones into Alcohols, 309 



this is a productive method of preparing this substance. When a 

 mixture of oil of bitter almonds and water was placed in contact 

 with sodium-amalgam and frequently agitated, the supernatant 

 liquor was found after some time not to combine entirely with 

 bisulphite of soda. The oily liquid which remained after agitation 

 with that reagent was decanted, and, on being submitted to 

 distillation and rectification, was found to consist of benzoic 

 alcohol, Q" H 8 O 2 . It had simply assimilated hydrogen, thus. 



C 7 H 6 2 + H 2 = G 7 H 8 2 . 

 Benzoic aldehyde. Benzoic alcohol. 



In like manner Friedel found that valerianic aldehyde, € 5 H 10 O, 

 is converted into valerianic alcohol, G 5 H 12 0. 



By the action of hydrogen on acetone, there might theoreti- 

 cally be formed either a mixed ether or an alcohol, thus, 



^R 6 Q + H 2 =f §* 1 © = C3 g 7 } 9. 



Acetone. Mixed ether. Alcohol* 



Sodium-amalgam was allowed to act for some time on a mixture 

 of acetone and water ; an oily layer separated, which increased 

 on the addition of carbonate of potash. This layer was decanted, 

 dehydrated, and rectified. It commenced to boil at 80°, and most 

 passed between 80° and 90°; the temperature then rose to 175°, at 

 which point a considerable portion of a viscous liquid was col- 

 lected. The product which passed between 80° and 90° was a 

 mixture of acetone, water, and an alcohol of the composition of 

 propylic alcohol, Q 3 H 8 O. It was further identified by conver- 

 sion into the iodide, as well as by the preparation of the acetate 

 and butyrate of propyle. Berthelot also found that the alcohol 

 thus obtained was identical with that which he had prepared 

 from propylene gas. 



The product which in the above reaction distilled between 

 175° and 185° is identical with that obtained by Fittig* by the 

 action of sodium on acetone, and which Stadeler calls pinakone. 



According to Debrayf, crystallized anhydrous tungstic acid is 

 easily obtained by heating to redness in a current of hydrochloric 

 acid a mixture of tungstate of soda and carbonate of soda placed 

 in a platinum boat in a porcelain tube. The tungstic acid is 

 liberated by the hydrochloric acid, and crystallizes in the chloride 

 of sodium simultaneously formed, in rectangular prisms. With 

 a rapid current of hydrochloric acid, the crystals are transported 

 to the posterior part of the tube. The properties of the crystal- 

 lized acid do not perceptibly differ from those of the ordinary 



* Phil. Mag. vol. xx. p. 201. 



f Comptes Renclus, August 11, 1862. 



H^^^^^MM 



