334 J. H. MAIDEN AND H. G. SMITH. 
Attempt to prepare an artificial Aluminium Succinate. 
When a neutralized solution of succinic acid is added toa 
solution of aluminium hydrate dissolved in hydrochloric acid, and 
‘ neutralized with ammonia as much as possible without causing 4 
precipitate, a dense white amorphous precipitate quickly forms. 
When this is thoroughly washed, dried at 120° — 125° O. until the © 
weight is constant, then powdered and ignited, it is found that 
66-4 per cent. of this dried residue is removed on burning, leaving 
33°6 per cent. of alumina. This does not correspond to the 
theoretical quantity of either the normal or basic salt of aluminium 
succinate. When this dried powder is heated in a tube, before 
charring commences a liquid collects in the tube, which soon 
crystallizes into prisms of succinic acid, showing that succinic acid 
is given off in this way while the same experiment with the 
natural succinate of aluminium failed to give off succinic acid 
when thus heated as described above. The artificial salt also 
appears more harsh and brittle than the natural one. 
The three following percentage results obtained by various 
observers! on succinic acid from various sources may be useful for 
comparison with our results. 
D’ Arcet. | Zwerger. Piria. 
C = 41-22 C = 40°62 C = 40°34 
H= 5°33 H= 5:28 H= 5°22 
O = 53-45 O = 54:10 O = 54*44 
D’ Arcet analysed the acid from Amber, Zwerger that from 
Wormwood, and Piria the acid obtained by fermenting an impure 
solution of Asparagin. 
It is with pleasure that we place the results of our investigation 
before you, because it enables us to describe a salt of an organ’ 
acid rarely found except in small quantities, and forming @ com - 
bination with aluminium that does not appear to have ever bee = 
found before in any tree, whether indigenous in Australia or not. : 
Although it is quite possible that this is an accidental and rare 
Fe ESTEE ES Gro ut ake 
1 Gmelin, loc. cit. 
