80 
MR. STENHOUSE ON THE EXAMINATION OF THE 
Evernic Acid. 
Evernic acid is insoluble in cold water ; boiling water dissolves a little of it, which, 
on the cooling of the liquid, is deposited in white flocks. It is pretty soluble in cold, 
and exceedingly soluble in hot alcohol ; on cooling the liquid is filled with a mass of 
small adhering needles. Evernic acid is also pretty soluble in ether. This acid has 
neither taste nor smell. Its alcoholic solution reddens litmus paper. When heated 
on platinum foil, evernic acid burns readily without leaving any residue ; and when 
it is heated in a test tube, it yields a little empyreumatic oil and a sublimate which 
has all the characters of orcin. When evernic acid is dissolved in an excess of am- 
monia and exposed to the air, on standing a few days the liquid slowly assumes a 
dark red colour. Evernic acid yields only a slightly yellowish colour with hypo- 
chlorite of lime. Evernic acid loses no water at 212° Fahr. 
I. 0'304 grm. dried at 212° gave with chromate of lead 0*687 C 02 and 0*137 water. 
II. 0*3325 grm. gave 0*7285 carbonic acid and 0*1525 water. 
Calculated numbers. 
I. 
II. 
34 C 
2598*790 
61*89 
61*63 
61*61 
16 H 
199*672 
4*75 
5*00 
5*16 
14 0 
1400*000 
33*36 
33*37 
33*23 
4198*462 
100*00 
100*00 
100*00 
These analyses give C 34 H 45 O^g-j-HO for the rational formula of hydrated evernic 
acid. 
Potash Salt. 
A quantity of evernic acid was dissolved in a considerable excess of potash in the 
cold ; the solution had a yellowish colour and frothed like soap. A current of car- 
bonic acid was then sent through the solution till all the caustic potash present was 
neutralized, when the liquid became filled with a mass of small crystals. These are 
the potash salt, which is very soluble in caustic potash, but very slightly soluble 
either in carbonate of potash or in cold water. The crystals were collected on a 
filter, dried, purified by digestion with animal charcoal, and finally crystallized out 
of spirits in vacuo. The crystals were then perfectly colourless and had a fine silky 
lustre. 
I. 0*0803 grm. salt gave 0*0183 sulphate of potash =0*098 potash =12*31 Ko per 
cent. 
II. 0*235 grm. salt gave 0*054 sulphate of potash = 0*0291 Ko =12*30 Ko percent. 
I. 0*192 grm. salt burned with chromate of lead, gave 0*393 carbonic acid and 
0*076 water. 
II. 0*319 grm. salt gave 0*6467 carbonic acid and 0*1235 water. 
