416 
CAPRYLIC  ALCOHOL  AND  ITS  DERIVATIVES. 
Sulphocaprylate  of  potash  is  white  and  pearly,  and  undergoes 
no  change  in  the  air ;  it  is  very  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol ; 
when  heated  it  begins  to  fuse,  and  burns,  without  carbonization, 
with  a  very  brilliant  flame.  It  may  be  obtained  by  double  decom- 
position by  means  of  the  baryta  salt,  or  directly  by  saturating 
the  acid  with  carbonate  of  potash.  It  is  decomposed  when  heated 
above  212°  F.  Its  constitution  is  2S03,  C16  H17  0,  KO,  HO. 
Analysis  :— 
Found.  Calculated. 
SO3,  KO  34-1       33-9  33-9 
Carbon  37-1       37-17  37-3 
Hydrogen  6  92       6-93  6-9 
Capryloacetic  ether,  C16  H17  0,  C4  H3  O3,  is  a  liquid  of  a  very 
agreeable  odor,  insoluble  in  water,  and  boiling  at  374Q  F.  It 
may  be  readily  obtained  by  means  of  caprylic  alcohol  and  acetic 
acid,  with  a  current  of  muriatic  acid  gas,  or  better  still  by  acetate 
of  soda  and  sulphuric  acid.  The  numbers  obtained  lead  to  the 
formula  above  given. 
Caprylomuriatic  ether  is  a  liquid,  insoluble  in  water  and  but 
slightly  soluble  in  alcohol;  its  solution  is  not  precipitated  by 
silver  salts  ;  it  burns  with  a  smoky  flame,  which  is  green  towards 
the  edges.  It  possesses  a  very  distinct  odor  of  orange.  Its 
boiling-point  is  about  347°  F.  It  is  prepared  either  directly  by 
means  of  muriatic  acid,  or  by  perchloride  of  phosphorus.  Its 
analysis  agrees  very  well  with  the  formula  C16  H17  CI. 
Caprylohydriodic  ether,  C16  H17  I,  has  much  analogy  with  the 
preceding.  During  its  preparation  a  large  quantity  of  red  phos- 
phorus was  obtained. 
By  the  action  of  sodium  upon  the  muriatic  ether,  all  the 
chlorine  is  removed,  and  the  product  of  the  action  is  either 
C  C16  H17  ) 
capryle,  <  q16  jj17  >  ,  or  caprylene,  C16  H16,  according  as  the 
operation  has  been  effected  by  cold  or  heat.  In  the  cold,  sodium 
becomes  covered  with  a  white  pellicle  of  chloride  of  sodium,  which 
is  detached  by  moving,  and  then  replaced  by  a  fresh  coat,  as 
long  as  the  fluid  retains  any  chlorine.    Analysis  : — 
Found.  Calculated. 
Carbon  85-04      16  84-95 
Hydrogen  14-99      17  15-04 
