ON  PERMANGANATE  OF  POTASH,  ETC. 
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carbonate  of  soda  and  chlorate  of  potash,  or  by  oxide  of  cop- 
per in  a  current  of  oxygen. 
For  certain  sulphuretted  compounds  the  employment  of  the 
permanganate  presents  peculiar  advantages.  In  the  analysis  of 
the  alkaline  polysulphurets  and  hydrosulphates  there  is  never 
any  fear  of  loss  of  sulphur  by  evolution  of  hydrosulphuric  acid, 
as  the  liquid  is  constantly  alkaline. 
In  the  course  of  their  experiments  the  authors  have  observed 
some  facts  regarding  the  action  of  permanganate  of  potash  upon 
various  organic  matters.  The  hydrocarbons  of  a  low  equiva- 
lent, such  as  benzine,  reduce  the  permanganate  in  the  cold  with 
great  facility,  only  furnishing  carbonate  or  bicarbonate  of  pot- 
ash. But  the  higher  hydrocarbons  furnish,  together  with  the 
carbonate,  some  well-defined  products  of  oxidation.  Thus  naph- 
thaline furnishes  naphthalic  acid,  a  product  which  is  difficult  to 
prepare  by  the  methods  hitherto  known. 
Camphor  reduces  the  permanganate  by  the  aid  of  a  prolonged 
ebullition  ;  camphorate  of  potash  is  formed. 
Alcohol  does  not  act  very  speedily  upon  the  solid,  pulverized 
permanganate,  in  consequence  of  the  slight  solubility  of  this  salt 
in  alcohol ;  acetate  of  potash  is  produced.  Under  the  same  cir- 
cumstances wood-spirit  furnishes  carbonate  and  formiate.  Se- 
bacic  acid  is  converted  into  succinate  of  potash. 
Stearic  acid  only  gives  a  mixture  of  stearate  and  carbonate  ; 
benzoic  acid  has  an  analogous  action,  a  portion  of  it  forming 
benzoate  of  potash,  whilst  the  rest  is  completely  oxidized,  form- 
ing water  and  carbonic  acid. 
Aniline  reduces  the  solution  of  the  permanganate  in  the  cold ; 
oxalate  and  carbonate  of  potash  are  formed. 
Lastly,  ammonia  decomposes  the  solution  of  the  reagent  in 
the  cold,  nitrogen  being  evolved.  No  nitrate  is  formed. — Qhem. 
Graz.,  Oct.  15,  1858,  from  Comptes  Rendus,  June  7,  1858. 
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