298 Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. ! 
to 50° restored the current. On completion of the electrolysis a 
colourless oil was seen to float to the surface of the liquid, and this 
oil oh cooling solidified to a white crystalline mass, which was 
washed several times with water, dried, and analysed. The results 
of analysis were as follows : — 
T628 gr. substance gave *4254 gr. C0 2 
and *1687 gr. H 2 0 
Found. Calculated for C^H^Ch 
C 71*26 per cent. 71*35 per cent. 
H 11*51 „ 11-35 „ 
The substance thus corresponds to the formula C 22 H 42 0 4 , showing 
that the reaction took place in the expected direction, viz. — 
2C 2 H 5 COO(CH 2 ) 8 COOK = C 2 H 5 COO(CII 2 ) 16 COOC 2 H 5 + 2C0 2 + 2K 
The acid of which this substance is the diethyl ether we propose 
to name w-dicarbodecahexanic acid. The ether melts at 43°, is 
practically insoluble in water, soluble in ether, is sparingly soluble 
in cold alcohol, but when melted mixes freely with hot alcohol. It 
possesses a faint, somewhat unpleasant smell, and decomposes 
rapidly when heated to 200°. In order to saponify it, its boiling 
alcoholic solution should be added gradually to a boiling solution 
of potash in alcohol. The potassium salt separates out. It is 
easily soluble in water, giving a soapy solution. 
Analysis of the potassium salt gave the following numbers : — 
*3565 gr. substance gave *1253 gr. K 2 C0 3 
Found. 
K 19*87 per cent. 
20*00 per cent. 
The calcium, barium, zinc, lead, silver, and copper salts fall out 
from an aqueous solution of the potassium salt as insoluble, mostly 
gelatinous, precipitates. The copper salt is green. 
The acid itself is precipitated in gelatinous form, but from hot 
alcohol it separates on cooling in small hard warty masses. It is 
practically insoluble in water, only slightly soluble in cold alcohol 
and in ether. Its melting-point is 118°. 
The yield of the dicarbodecahexanic ether is over 20 per cent, 
of the sebacic ether employed. 
