472 DR. JOHN STENHOUSE ON THE OILS PRODUCED BY THE ACTION 
from meta-furfurol it colours still more rapidly, and in the course of a few days 
becomes perfectly black ; pure fucusol may however be kept in hermetically sealed 
vessels for any length of time without change. Its specific gravity at 13^° C. is 1'150. 
I found that of furfurol at the same temperature 1-1636. Dr. Fownes makes it 
1*1648 at 60°Fahr. When heated in a glass retort containing some thin slips of 
copper, fucusol boils regularly and uniformly between 171° and 172° C. As the boiling 
proceeds, the oil grows coloured, and a small portion of it is destroyed by every di- 
stillation, being converted into a dark-coloured resin which remains in the retort. I 
found the boiling-point of furfurol from bran to be 166° C., while Messrs. Fownes and 
Cahours found it only to be 162^° C. Neither of these gentlemen make any mention 
of the acetone which is always present in crude furfurol ; I do not however affirm that 
the oil examined by these chemists contained acetone, though, judging from the low- 
ness of its boiling-point, I think this by no means improbable. 
Fucusol very elosely resembles furfurol both in its taste and smell, though the 
odour of fucusol is much fainter and more agreeable. Fucusol requires 14 parts by 
weight of water at 13° C. to dissolve it, while furfurol dissolves in 11 parts of water 
at the same temperature. Furfurol dissolves in 9 times its weight of pretty coneen- 
trated liquor ammonise at 13^° C., while fucusol requires 12 times its weight of the 
same liquid for its solution. The difference therefore between the oils in regard to 
solubility is considerable. Fucusol also shows much less stability, and is therefore 
more readily decomposed than furfurol. With muriatie acid, fucusol strikes a pale 
green colour, which on standing becomes greenish black. Nitric acid gives it a pale 
yellow colour, sulphuric acid a greenish brown, which in time becomes bluish black. 
Solution of potash turns it first yellow, then pale red, and lastly dark red. Lime and 
soda produce similar results. If however the fucusol contains any meta-furfurol, it 
instantly strikes a bright red colour with either muriatic, nitric or sulphuric acids. 
Fucusol stains the skin of a deep yellow colour, which is tolerably persistent. If these 
yellow spots are moistened with aniline,they immediately become bright red, exhibiting 
the same reaction as furfurol. Pure fucusol when dried was analysed. 
I. 0-2605 grm. oil gave 0'594 carbonic acid and 0*104 water. 
II. 0*254 grm. oil gave 0*583 carbonic acid and 0*105 water. 
III. 0*228 grm. oil gave 0*521 carbonic acid and 0*092 water. 
Calculated numbers. 
Found numbers. 
I. 
II. 
III. 
15 C 1125 
62*50 
62*19 
62*59 
62*32 
6 H 75 
4*17 
4*43 
4*59 
4*48 
6 0 600 
33*33 
33*38 
32*82 
33*20 
1800 
100*00 
100*00 
100*00 
10000 
It is plain therefore, from the results of these analyses, that the formula of fucusol 
is C\5 Hg Og, and consequently that furfurol and fucusol are isomeric compounds. 
