658 
DE. A. MATTHIESSEN AND ME. G. 0. EOSTEE ON 
hitherto unknown normal opianic acid, 
c 8 h 6 0 5 , 
between which and opianic acid itself the product ahove-mentioned is exactly inter- 
mediate : 
Opianic acid C'io H 10 0 5 
New compound . . . . C 9 H 8 0 5 
Normal opianic acid . . C 8 H 6 0 5 . 
For want of a better name we therefore propose to call the compound C 9 H 8 O g mono- 
methyl-normal opianic acid, or if the contraction is admissible, methyl-nor opianic acid. 
Dried at 100° C. the substance gave the following results on analysis*: — 
I. 0*4486 grm. gave 0*9036 grm. carbonic acid and 0*1694 grm. water. 
II. 0*4135 grm. gave 0*8365 grm. carbonic acid and 0*1600 grm. water. 
III. 0*4435 grm. gave 0*8970 grm. carbonic acid and 0*1680 grm. water. 
Calculated. 
Found. 
r 
r i. 
II. 
hi? 
c 9 . . . . 
. 108 
55*10 
54*94 
55*16 
55*16 
H 8 . . . . 
8 
4*08 
4*20 
4*29 
4*21 
Og. . . . 
C 9 H 8 0 5 . . 
. 80 
. 196 
40*82 
100*00 
— 
— 
— 
Methyl-noropianic acid crystallizes with 2\ molecules of water, which it gives up at 
100° c. 
I. 8*509 grms.f lost 1*548 grm. at 100° C. 
II. 9*422 grms. lost 1*772 grm. at 100° C. 
Calculated. Eound. 
C 9 H 8 0 5 . . . . 196 81*33 
2\ H 2 O .... 45 18*67 18*2 18*8 
C 9 H 8 0 5 , 2^H 2 6 241 1 004)0 
The crystallized acid, when heated, first melts in its water of crystallization, and then, 
as the water evaporates, solidifies to a white crystalline mass. Hence it appears that 
the acid dissolves in less than a quarter of its weight of hot water ; in cold water, how- 
ever, it is only sparingly soluble. It is easily soluble in alcohol, but almost insoluble in 
ether. 
Like hypogallic acid it strikes a dark blue with perchloride of iron, but, on addition 
* All the combustions given in this paper were made with oxide of copper and oxygen. 
f For these and other like determinations the substance was first drained on filter-paper and then pressed 
between two pieces of wood in a strong vice, the paper being renewed until it was no longer wetted. 
