— ii9 — 



the strong liquor also dissolved a portion of the other constituents of 

 clove oil. The determinations become more correct if a 5 per cent, soda 

 liquor 1 ) is employed, but in the case of clove oils very rich in eugenol 

 (about 95%) this method is also unsuitable, as such oils dissolve com- 

 pletely in the lye. This is shown, in an even more striking manner 

 with pimenta oil and terpeneless bay oil; in the case of the 

 former, the results obtained with 5 per cent, lye were by 1 1 to 1 3 °/ 

 too high, and terpeneless bay oil with about 8o°/ eugenol dissolves 

 readily in 5 per cent, liquor. 



In one of our previous Reports 2 ) we have already mentioned 

 that these drawbacks in the case of clove oil are obviated by the use 

 of a 3 per cent, soda liquor, and we have made the same observat- 

 ion with the two other oils, so that now we determine the eugenol 

 in all oils containing this body, exclusively with 3 per cent, 

 soda liquor, by adding to 10 cc. oil in a cassia flask of 100 cc. 

 capacity, so much liquor that the flask is filled for about 

 three-fourths, and repeatedly shaking the mixture strongly. 

 The further determination is accomplished in the usual manner. In 

 the case of clove oils we heat at the same time for 10 minutes 

 in the water bath, in order to be quite sure that the acetoeugenol 

 contained in them is completely saponified 3 ), as this is of equal 

 importance as the free eugenol in valueing clove oils. 



The phenol - content of oils containing thymol and carvacrol 

 however, such as oils of thyme and Cretian origanum, we continue 

 to determine (with the use of a burette) with 5 per cent, liquor, 

 which, as experience has shown, absorbs the phenols of these oils 

 better than 3 per cent, liquor. 



We would still mention that in the oils containing eugenol referred 

 to above, the 5 per cent, liquor has a dissolving action on the non- 

 phenols only on account of its content of eugenol sodium, and acts 

 in the first place on their oxygenated portions. If the eugenol is 

 previously removed from the oil by means of 3 per cent, liquor, the 

 5 per cent, liquor is practically incapable of dissolving anything fur- 

 ther from the non-phenols. An exception to this is of course aceto- 

 eugenol, on which the liquor has a saponifying action. 



Determination of alcohols. For the quantitative determination 

 of linalool, terpineol, and tertiary alcohols generally, which, as is well- 

 known, cannot be determined quantitatively by the usual acetylation 



*) We wish to state specially that it is immaterial whether soda liquor is 

 employed, or potash liquor of the same percentage. 



2 ) Report October 1903, 30. 



8 ) In the cold this occurs only after prolonged shaking; when proceeding in 

 the usual manner, the saponification is only complete in the case of oils very rich 

 in eugenol. Comp. Report October 1903, 29. 



