AmAp^r;i^7arm*}  New  Compound  Valerates.  171 
NEW  COMPOUND  VALERATES. 
By  R.  Rothee. 
There  is  a  considerable  number  of  strictly  monobasic  acids  which 
generate  multiple  and  acidic  salts  that  are  the  exact  analogues  of  com- 
pound salts  derived  from  polyhydronic  radicles.  That  some  mode  of 
chemism  not  expressible  in  unit  valence  binds  the  molecules  together  is 
undoubted.  The  writer  has  heretofore  in  explanation  of  this  state  as- 
sumed a  coalescence  dependent  upon  fractional  bonds  and  preferably 
assigned  this  union  to  the  basic  rather  than  the  acidic  part  of  the  sa- 
line compact.  But  the  writer  now  believes  that  a  more  comprehen- 
sive view  of  the  case  results  by  assuming  a  polymerization  of  the  im- 
plicated acidic  radicle.  Thus  taking,  for  instance,  a  double  molecule 
of  chlorhydric  acid  and  representing  it  by  H2(C12)  we  may  replace 
half  the  hydrogen  by  a  quinium  residue  and  obtain  acidic  quiniuni 
chloride  (QuH)H(Cl2)  an  authenticated  salt.  When  quinine  as  free 
base  is  added  in  excess  to  ferric  chloride,  ferric  hydrate  is  precipitated. 
On  adding  chlorhydric  acid  just  sufficient  to  dissolve  the  hydrate  and 
then  adding  quinium  chloride  as  long  as  combination  results  a  chlor- 
ide of  iron  and  quinium  is  obtained  which  may  be  represented  by 
Fe(QuH)  (Cl4). 
When  its  solution  is  evaporated  spontaneously  or  with  a  gentle 
heat,  the  double  salt  remains  as  a  nondeliquescent  red-brown  amorphous 
readily  soluble  mass.  On  a  former  occasion  (Amer.  Jour.  Phar., 
June,  1884)  the  writer  stated  that  the  crystallized  ammonium  val- 
erate of  the  market  is  an  acidic  salt  of  valeric  acid,  but  its  exact 
composition  was  not  ascertained.  Recently  the  writer  experimented 
with  magnesium  carbonate  on  this  compound.  From  the  propor- 
tion of  carbonate  then  dissolved  it  was  deduced  to  be  a  diacidic 
valerate  having  the  formula  (NH4)H2(  Va3).  The  ammonium  and 
magnesium  valerate  NH4Mg(Va3)  thus  resulting  has  an  exceedingly 
sweet  taste,  free  from  valeric  flavor  or  bitterness.  Its  odor  is  but 
a  faint  reminder  of  its  origin.  It  may  be  manipulated  and  exposed 
with  impunity  without  tainting  the  atmosphere  with  the  disagreeable 
aroma  of  valeric  acid.  This  compound  salt  is  extremely  soluble, 
but  can  readily  be  obtained  as  a  nondeliquescent  crystalline  mass 
on  evaporating  its  solution  to  a  syrupy  consistence.  Viewed  under 
the  microscope  with  a  half  inch  objective  it  is  seen  to  be  made  up  of 
spinules  arranged  in  star-shaped  groups.  Its  appearance  in  polarized 
light  is  very  fine. 
