o28 
following results are all I have as yet obtained. A considerable 
part of the work has been done in the Glasgow College Laboratory. 
Plantamour found that when a strong solution of citric acid was 
exposed to the action of chlorine in the sunshine, a heavy oil ap- 
peared on the surface of the liquid, gathering in drops and sinking 
to the bottom. He describes the properties of this oil,* and ascribes 
to it the formula C g Cl g 0 ;r In his examination of acetone, f 
Staedeler found that a substitution product of this body, with five 
atoms of chlorine replacing hydrogen, resembled Plantamour’s oil in 
every respect, and that the percentage composition of hexachlorinated 
acetone corresponded exactly with Plantamour’s formula. There 
could therefore be very little doubt left as to its composition; but as 
I had the following analyses made before I was aware of Staedeler’ s 
suggestion, and as Plantamour procured a potash salt from it to which 
he assigns a formula having eight atoms carbon, and as his own 
analyses w r ere not given in the memoir, I have published the fol- 
lowing to remove any doubt. 
Upwards of twenty half-gallon bottles filled with chlorine, having 
a little of a saturated solution of citric acid in each, required many 
weeks exposure to sunshine to yield about a fluid ounce of the oil. 
There seemed to be no other substance formed, unless, perhaps, hydro- 
chloric acid and water. After drying over chloride of calcium it 
distilled entirely about 400° Fahr. I found its density at 60° Fahr. to 
be 1*748. Its properties agree very exactly with PlantamouFs 
description. 
( 7*200 grs. substance gave 
I. 3*620 grs. carbonic acid, 
| *200 grs. water. 
j f 9*250 grs. substance gave 
\ 29 7 90 grs, chloride of silver. 
Experiments. Theory. 
I. 
II. 
X- ■ 

— 
Carbon, 13*71 
- — 
13*58 
C* 
36 
Chlorine, • — 
79*67 
80*38 
C. 
213 
Oxygen, — — 
— 
6*04 
0 2 
16 
100 00 
265 
* See Rapport Annuel de Berzelius 7 e annee. 
f Nachricht, von der Gesellsch, der Wiss. Zu Gottingen. 1863. No. 9. 
