168 MR. BRODIE ON THE CHEMICAL NATURE OF A WAX FROM CHINA. 
This substance may be called ceroten. After the discovery of the alcohol, there 
was a strong presumption that the hydrocarbon and the cerotin would be related in 
the manner expressed by the formula, the hydrocarbon being the olefiant gas of the 
wax alcohol. It was, however, very desirable to find some method for the determi- 
nation of its formula. I investigated, with this view, the action of chlorine on the 
substance. 
Chlor-Ceroten. 
If moist chlorine be passed over the melted ceroten in the manner before described 
in the case of the other wax substances, it is readily acted upon by the gas. It 
loses its wax character, becomes gum-like, and is ultimately converted into a trans- 
parent resin ; the substance becoming harder and harder with the increase of the 
chlorine substituted, at length becoming extremely hard, and cracking in all direc- 
tions, on cooling, on the surface of the glass on which it has been melted. The action 
goes on very slowly, but more rapidly with moist than with dry gas. It was continued 
for several weeks, until no more traces of hydrochloric acid formed could be observed. 
During the operation portions of the substance were taken out at intervals and 
analysed. 
0-303 grin, of the first portion thus examined gave 0-3495 COg and 0-0965 HO, 
corresponding in 100 parts to — 
Carbon 3T46 
Hydrogen .... 3'54 
Chlorine .... 65-00 
10000 
r H 
These numbers agree with the formula C 54 < , which requires in 100 parts, 
C 54 . . . 31-31 
H 35 . . . 3-39 
CI 49 . . . 65-30 
100-00 
After an interval of about four days the substance was again analysed. 
I. 0-3/6 grin, of the substance gave 0-4060 CO 2 and 0-9085 HO. 
II. 0-36‘2 grm. of the substance gave 0-3915 CO 2 and 0-1005 HO. 
These analyses give in 100 parts, — 
I. 
II. 
Carbon 
. . 29-45 
29-49 
Hydrogen . 
. . 2-91 
3-09 
Chlorine . 
. . 68-64 
67‘42 
100-00 
100-00 
