﻿414 
  MR 
  HENRY 
  HOW 
  ON 
  MECONIC 
  ACID, 
  

  

  Calculation. 
  

  

  I. 
  II. 
  

  

  Carbon, 
  . 
  . 
  51-33 
  51-35 
  51-56 
  C 
  22 
  132 
  

  

  Hydrogen, 
  . 
  4-81 
  4-84 
  468 
  H 
  12 
  12 
  

  

  Oxygen, 
  . 
  ... 
  ... 
  4376 
  14 
  112 
  

  

  100-00 
  100-00 
  10000 
  256 
  

  

  These 
  numbers 
  lead 
  to 
  the 
  formula, 
  

  

  HO, 
  2 
  C 
  4 
  H 
  5 
  0, 
  C 
  u 
  HO 
  n 
  . 
  

  

  Having 
  thus 
  far 
  succeeded 
  in 
  replacing 
  one 
  and 
  two 
  of 
  the 
  atoms 
  of 
  basic 
  water 
  

   of 
  meconic 
  acid 
  by 
  corresponding 
  equivalents 
  of 
  ether, 
  I 
  was 
  in 
  hopes 
  of 
  being 
  

   able 
  to 
  go 
  still 
  further 
  and 
  obtain 
  a 
  neutral 
  compound. 
  For 
  this 
  purpose 
  I 
  dis- 
  

   tilled 
  some 
  meconic 
  acid 
  with 
  absolute 
  alcohol 
  and 
  strong 
  sulphuric 
  acid. 
  By 
  

   application 
  of 
  a 
  gentle 
  heat, 
  tranquil 
  ebullition 
  was 
  commenced 
  and 
  sustained. 
  

   The 
  distillate 
  consisted 
  of 
  alcohol 
  and 
  ether, 
  and 
  the 
  contents 
  of 
  the 
  retort 
  gra- 
  

   dually 
  acquired 
  a 
  syrupy 
  consistence 
  ; 
  at 
  this 
  period 
  they 
  were 
  poured 
  into 
  a 
  

   comparatively 
  large 
  quantity 
  of 
  cold 
  water 
  ; 
  in 
  a 
  short 
  time 
  a 
  crystalline 
  precipi- 
  

   tate 
  of 
  a 
  delicate 
  rose-pink 
  colour 
  was 
  formed, 
  which 
  gradually 
  increased 
  in 
  quan- 
  

   tity. 
  On 
  recrystallisation 
  from 
  water 
  it 
  was 
  obtained 
  in 
  colourless 
  flattened 
  

   prisms, 
  which 
  gave, 
  on 
  analysis, 
  the 
  following 
  numbers 
  : 
  — 
  

  

  {4-860 
  grains, 
  dried 
  at 
  212°, 
  gave 
  

   9 
  128 
  ... 
  carbonic 
  acid, 
  and 
  

   2-135 
  ... 
  water. 
  

  

  which, 
  when 
  calculated 
  for 
  per-centages, 
  are 
  equal 
  to 
  

  

  Carbon, 
  . 
  . 
  . 
  51-22 
  

  

  Hydrogen, 
  . 
  . 
  . 
  4-88 
  

  

  and 
  shew 
  the 
  substance 
  to 
  be 
  identical 
  with 
  that 
  obtained 
  in 
  the 
  former 
  process. 
  

   This 
  method 
  obviously 
  furnishes 
  a 
  ready 
  source 
  of 
  the 
  pure 
  ether. 
  I 
  may 
  men- 
  

   tion, 
  that 
  I 
  have 
  not 
  been 
  able 
  to 
  produce 
  it 
  this 
  way 
  by 
  employing 
  rectified 
  spirit 
  

   in 
  place 
  of 
  absolute 
  alcohol. 
  

  

  Biethylomeconic 
  acid, 
  in 
  its 
  pure 
  state, 
  as 
  crystallised 
  from 
  water, 
  occurs 
  in 
  

   the 
  form 
  of 
  long, 
  flattened, 
  colourless, 
  prisms 
  ; 
  it 
  fuses 
  under 
  boiling 
  water 
  before 
  

   dissolving. 
  It 
  is 
  very 
  soluble 
  in 
  alcohol. 
  In 
  the 
  dry 
  state 
  it 
  fuses 
  at 
  about 
  230 
  c 
  

   Fahr. 
  to 
  a 
  yellowish 
  transparent 
  liquid. 
  

  

  Its 
  aqueous 
  solution 
  readily 
  coagulates 
  the 
  white 
  of 
  eggs, 
  has 
  an 
  acid 
  reaction, 
  

   and 
  decomposes 
  carbonates 
  with 
  effervescence. 
  It 
  imparts 
  to 
  persalts 
  of 
  iron 
  a 
  

   red 
  colour. 
  

  

  As 
  the 
  above 
  formula 
  indicates, 
  it 
  is 
  a 
  monobasic 
  acid 
  ; 
  I 
  add 
  the 
  analysis 
  of 
  

   two 
  salts 
  which 
  shew 
  this 
  fact. 
  

  

  When 
  subjected 
  to 
  the 
  action 
  of 
  ammonia 
  in 
  the 
  cold, 
  biethylomeconic 
  acid 
  

   does 
  not 
  undergo 
  decomposition 
  ; 
  the 
  substances 
  simply 
  enter 
  into 
  combination. 
  

  

  