Qualitative Determinations. 
403 
liigher than that of the halogen substitution products, — of 
chloroform for example. The alcoholic solutions, including 
glycol and glycerol, conduct very well. As many quantitative 
determinations of the conductivity have been made in methyl 
and ethyl alcoholic solutions, it was unnecessary to make qual¬ 
itative tests in this connection. The dielectric constants are 
Telatively high; and the high values of the coefficients of asso¬ 
ciation show that the molecules of these solvents are highly 
polymerized. The viscosity of glycol and glycerol 1 no doubt 
diminishes their conductivity. The conductivity of phenol and 
meta-cresol solutions is not as great as that of the alcoholic 
solutions, neither is the dielectric constant nor the coefficient 
of association as great as in the case of the alcohols. The dis¬ 
sociative power of the ethers and even of acetic anhydride is 
virtually nil. From the dielectric constant of acetic aldehyde 
one would expect solutions of this solvent to conduct. Such is 
the case; and the fact that solutions of chloral do not conduct 
is in keeping with its low dielectric constant. The molecules 
of chloral are not polymerized. The coefficient of association 
of acetic aldehyde has not been determined to our knowledge. 
Notwithstanding the fact that the molecules of paraldehyde are 
not polymerized, its solutions conduct. Benzaldehye solutions 
conduct sufficiently to justify quantitative measurements ; and this 
would be expected from the value of its dielectric constant. It 
will also be noted that according to determinations, by Ram¬ 
say and Shields, the molecules of this solvent are not polymer¬ 
ized. Solutions in cinnamic and salicylic aldehydes conduct very 
well. The specific inductive capacity of furfurol would indi¬ 
cate that this solvent would yield conducting solutions; and 
such is the case. The ketones tested yield solutions that con¬ 
duct; and this is in keeping with what other investigators 2 have 
found. 
The esters with few exceptions yield solutions that conduct. 
Notwithstanding the very low dielectric constant of ethyl acetate, 
1 Cattaneo, Beal. Acead. Lincei. II, 112; 1893. (Raf.) Jour. Chem, 
£oc. 70, ii, 231; 1896.: 
2 Dutoit and Aston (loc. cit.). 
Dutoit and Fridarich (loc. cit.). 
