CRYSTALLINE DEPOSIT OCCURRING IN TIMBER. 197 



Dinitro compound. — The crystals were dissolved in nitric 

 acid and gently heated to start the reaction. When this 

 was complete the addition of water gave a lemon-yellow 

 precipitate, which, when purified, was soluble in, and 

 crystallised from, both ether and alcohol. It was readily 

 purified from boiling water in which it readily dissolved, 

 but separated out again in masses of yellow felted crystals 

 on cooling. The melting point was sharp at 128-129°, 

 although it agglutinated some degrees below that tem- 

 perature. 



0*1756 of the nitro compound gave 14 cc. of nitrogen at 

 17° C. and 755 mm. pressure which equals 9*14 per cent, 

 nitrogen. CyEE^NOs^CX contains 8*98 per cent, nitrogen. 

 It is thus shown to be a dinitro compound. 



Methyoxy groups. — The ready formation of insoluble 

 halogen compounds when the crystals were boiled in a 

 halogen acid made the results somewhat erratic. Figures 

 more nearly correct were obtained when acetic anhydride 

 was added, but even then the results were not too satis- 

 factory. The greatest amount of silver iodide obtained in 

 six determinations only represented about one and three- 

 quarter groups of OCH 3 , but this, together with the form- 

 ation of veratric acid on oxidation, is sufficient confirmation 

 for two OCHo groups in the molecule. 



Hydroxyl group. — A portion of the crystals was boiled 

 with acetic anhydride and sodium acetate in the usual way. 

 On the addition of water a crystalline substance separated, 

 which, when purified from acetic acid melted at 110° 0. 

 Analysis gave results in conformity with one OH group. 

 When saponified by boiling with standardised alcoholic 

 potash the following results were obtained : — 0*3684 gram 

 boiled two hours had used 0*0756 gram KOH. 0*41 gram 

 boiled one hour had used 0*084 gram KOH. 0, 2 H 13 (OCOH 3 )04 

 would require 0*0781 gram KOH in the first instance, and 



