NATURAL DEPOSIT OF ALUMINIUM SUCCINATE IN TIMBER. 329 
Besides these results of melting point and combustion, the acid 
gave perfectly all the qualitative reactions necessary for succinic 
acid. When the succinic acid was crystallized in the most 
. successful manner, good monoclinic crystals were obtained. 
Solubility and other tests with the original substance. 
Besides the property of solubility in nitric acid, taking advantage 
of which was found the best method of isolating the succinic acid, 
the original substance is almost entirely soluble in hydrochloric 
acid, a small brownish residue being left, the succinic acid being 
precipitated on cooling the solution, providing the hydrochloric 
acid is not too dilute. The original substance is also soluble in 
sulphuric acid, with the exception of a small brownish residue, 
the succinic acid separating from this solution also on cooling. 
It is also soluble in both potassium and sodium hydrate. When 
boiled with solution of ammonia, a portion of the succinic acid is 
PE a Ff oe te ee ee 
dissolved, forming succinate of ammonium, a more basic salt being 
left. The material acts in this way the same as ferric succinate 
does when boiled with ammonia. 
When the original substance is boiled with carbonate of 
ammonium for a long time, filtered, ammonia added, to precipitate 
alumina, and evaporated to crystallization, with the occasional 
addition of ammonia as evaporation proceeds, good crystals of 
Succinate of ammonium are obtained. 
When the original substance is heated in a closed tube, succinic 
acid is not given off, the water being in fact quite neutral at a low 
temperature. When the temperature is raised, the water is found 
to be acid, but when dried in the tube, no solid residue is left, 
Indicating that the trace of acid given off is volatile. Sufficient 
Material was taken to give a few drops of this acid liquid, which 
Save the reaction of acetic acid with F e,Cl., but gave no precipi- 
tate with that reagent in a neutral solution, showing the absence 
of succinic acid, : 
When the powder is heated with bisulphate of potassium, the 
Suecinic acid sublimes, principally as the anhydride. When the 
