ME, C. SCHOELEMMEE ON THE NOEMAL PAEAFFINS. 
113 
200° for two or three hours, by which they were completely decomposed. On diluting 
the contents of the tubes with water, a light layer, a mixture of olefines and acetates, 
separated out, from which, after drying, the acetates were isolated by fractional distilla- 
tion, and then decomposed by an alcoholic solution of caustic potash. The alcohols thus 
obtained were repeatedly washed with small quantities of water and dried, first with 
fused potassium carbonate, and finally with anhydrous baryta. 
Whilst neither a mixture of the two chlorides nor of the acetic ethers can be separated 
even approximately into its constituents, it is, however, easy to obtain from the mixed 
alcohols two liquids, each having a nearly constant boiling-point. But although appa- 
rently a definite separation has thus been effected, the bodies obtained in this manner 
are far from being pure compounds. This might have been expected a priori, as the 
difference between the boiling-points of the two alcohols is only about 10°. The pro- 
ducts of oxidation showed that the lower boiling liquid consisted principally of the 
secondary alcohol, but still mixed with some of the primary ; whilst in the higher boiling 
liquid, besides a large quantity of primary alcohol, also some secondary was contained. 
In order to oxidize the alcohols, I used, as in my former researches, a solution con- 
sisting of two parts of potassium dichromate, three parts of sulphuric acid, and ten 
parts of water, which was added gradually to the alcohols until the brownish colour 
of the liquid indicated an excess of chromic acid, care being taken at the same time to 
keep the liquids as cold as possible. After standing for some time, and being repeat- 
edly shaken, the liquid was diluted with water and distilled, when the acetone formed 
passed over with the first portion. The residue was again distilled with water, and this 
operation repeated as long as the distillate exhibited an acid reaction. The aqueous 
distillates were neutralized with sodium carbonate, the acetone which dissolved in them 
separated by distillation, and the solution of the sodium salts evaporated to dryness. 
By adding dilute sulphuric acid to the residue, the acid was liberated and dried with 
phosphorus pentoxide. 
Normal Amyl Hydride or Pentane * * * § , C 5 H 12 . 
This hydrocarbon is a mobile colourless liquid, boiling at 37° to 39°, which I first 
discovered in the light oils from cannel tarf ; it is also found in boghead tar, and in large 
quantities in Pennsylvania petroleum. According to Pelouze and Cahours, the amyl 
hydride from petroleum boils at 30°$, whilst Warren has found that it contains two 
isomerides, C 5 XX 12 , one boiling at 30 O- 2 and the other at 37° §. My last researches agree 
with Warren’s statement. I have formerly stated that the amyl hydride from petro- 
leum boiled at 35° || ; but this body, as well as the derivatives which I prepared from it, 
are, as I have now found, only mixtures. The petroleum which I used for this research 
* Hofmann calls this hydrocarbon quintane and its derivatives quintyl compounds. I prefer the names 
pentane and pentyl, as corresponding with hexyl and heptyl, which terms are now in general use. 
t Journ. Chem. Soc. vol. xv. p. 419. % Ann. Chim. Phys. [4] vol. i. p. 5. 
§ Chem. News, vol. xiii. p. 74, from Mem. Amer. Academy. || Proc. Eoy. Soc. vol. xv. p. 131. 
MDCCCLXXII. Q 
