50 
ME. W. DE LA ELE AXD M. H. MULLEE OX 
powerful reagent, the so-called sodium-alcohol,” which is obtained by dissolving sodium 
in absolute alcohol. Sodium-alcohol and potassium-alcohol are at ordinary tempe- 
ratures generally equivalent in their reactions to the hydrates of those alkalies when in 
a state of fusion, and hence present the advantage of effecting decompositions in a more 
simple manner, the effect of a high temperature not interfering nith the final result, as 
is sometimes the case when the fusing hydrated alkahes are employed. 
Some experiments of this kind, performed with great care, convinced us that the 
occurrence of acetic acid could not be attributed to the effect of empyreumatic decom- 
position, but that it actually existed as an integral proximate constituent of our crystal- 
lizable substance. This led us at once to suspect that our substance was in reahty 
an ether-like compound. This supposition was confirmed by the separation of a body 
which might be considered as the hydrated oxide of a radical ; moreover, we were ulti- 
mately enabled to give the fullest confirmation to this theoretical speculation, by actually 
reforming the original substance in a manner suggested by this riew. 
It should be stated that sodium-alcohol dissolves our substance with the greatest 
facility, and even at a temperature of 30° C. (86° Fahe.) decomposition takes place, the 
reaction being unaccompanied by the evolution of gas. On cooling, the solution con- 
tinues liquid, although a large quantity of the substance may have been employed ; but 
on addition of water, a white flocculent substance separates from the colomless alkahne 
mother-liquor. 
The flocculent substance is io soluble in water, but readily soluble in even cold alcohol. 
When dissolved in a quantity of boiling alcohol, just sufificient to take it up, the solution 
on cooling completely solidifies to a mass of beautiful sillcy crystals, quite different from 
those of the original substance : this new derivative proved to be the new alcohol which 
we propose to call Sycocerylic Alcohol. 
The aqueous liquor from which the flocculent precipitate was separated remains 
almost perfectly clear on saturation with a mineral acid ; on examination no other pro- 
duct besides a volatile organic acid could be found in it. The existence of a volatile 
acid with the odour of acetic acid, was rendered evident by saturating the alkaline 
mother-liquor with phosphoric acid and distilling; the distillate was saturated with 
carbonate of barium and evaporated to the crystallization point, when prismatic crystals, 
of the characteristic form of acetate of barium, were obtained. A barium determination 
gave the following result : — 
2T525 grms. of substance, dried first over sulphuric acid, then at 200° C. (392°FAnE.), 
gave 1-9593 sulphate of barium, corresponding to 53-52 per cent, barium. 
The formula, C 4 H 3 Ba 04 , of anhydrous acetate of barium requires 53-73 per cent, of 
barium. 
Alcohol of Sycoceryl. 
The preparation of this substance has been already detailed. In order to render it 
pure, it is only necessary, after it has been precipitated from the solution of sodium 
alcohol, to wash it well -with water in order to remove all traces of fixed alkali ; then to 
crystallize it a few times from warm alcohol. The crystals usually occur aggregated in 
