380  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  {Am  AS2.%893?rnK 
the  color  is  a  deep  or  even  black-brown.  Arachis  oil  is  the  only 
other  oil  showing  similar  behavior  towards  sulphuric  acid.  For 
quantitative  results  calculation  is  made  from  the  iodine  absorption. — 
(Ztschr.  f.  anal.  Chem.)  Chem  Repertorium,  1893,  166. 
Analysis  of  bees-wax. — The  method  proposed  by  Hubl  whilst 
rapid  and  giving  constant  results  (free  acid  equivalent  19-21,  com- 
pound ether  equivalent  73-76,  saponification  equivalent  (the  sum  of 
the  previous  two)  92-97,  ratio  of  free  acid  to  compound  ether: 
3-60-3-80;  the  first  three  figures  indicate  the  number  of  milligrams 
of  KOH  necessary  for  one  gram  of  wax)  is  subject  to  the  objection 
that  the  adulteration  may  be  made  with  a  mixture  itself  yielding  the 
previous  figures  and  which  can  therefore  be  added  to  wax  in  any 
proportion  (such  a  mixture  contains  35  parts  stearic  acid,  165  parts 
Japan  wax  and  300  parts  ceresin-paraffin  ;  it  is  possible  for  such  a 
mixture  to  show  the  normal  melting  point  and  specific  gravity  of 
wax).  In  the  analysis  of  wax  it  is  therefore  imperative  to  embody 
certain  qualitative  tests  and  to  perform  Hubl's  determinations  with 
wax  melted  under  hot  water  and  repeatedly  washed  to  remove  any 
acid  which  in  the  case  of  white  wax  especially  could  be  introduced 
in  the  process  of  bleaching).  The  following  are  the  qualitative 
tests:  (1)  Stearic  acid.  One  gram  is  boiled  for  several  minutes 
with  10  cc.  80  per  cent,  alcohol,  allowed  to  cool  to  18-200,  filtered 
and  the  filtrate  diluted  with  water;  the  stearic  acid  separates  in 
flakes  and  collects  at  the  surface,  while  the  liquid  becomes  trans- 
parent ;  the  test  is  sensitive  to  one  per  cent.;  if  7-8  per  cent,  are 
present,  the  acid  remains  suspended  in  the  liquid  forming  a  thick 
creamy  mixture.  (2)  Resin.  5  gms.  wax  with  4-5  volumes  of 
nitric  acid  sp.  gr.  1-32-1-33  are  kept  at  the  boiling  point  for  one 
minute,  diluted  with  an  equal  volume  of  water  and  then  made 
slightly  alkaline  with  ammonia  ;  the  solution  decanted  from  the 
separated  wax  in  the  absence  of  resin  has  a  yellow  color,  whilst  its 
presence  causes  a  more  or  less  intense  red-brown  color;  one  per 
cent,  resin  can  be  detected  especially  if  a  test  with  pure  wax  be 
made  at  the  same  time.  (3)  Glycerides  {Japan  wax  a?id  tallow} 
are  tested  for  by  evaporating  the  alcohol  from  the  solution  left  after 
completing  the  Hubl's  determinations,  adding  water,  filtering,  con- 
centrating the  filtrate  and  heating  the  residue  with  potassium  bisul- 
phate;  the  irritating  odor  of  acrolein  indicating  glycerin  and  indi- 
rectly glycerides.    (4)    Negative  results  with  I,  2  and  3  and  normal 
