204 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
this spirit, as the result of the decomposition of acetic acid, is 
very easy of explanation. If the vapor of acetic acid be passed 
over charcoal in a tube heated to redness, the only products 
are pyroacetic spirit and carbonic acid. Now the composition 
of two equivalents of acetic acid, is expressed by the following 
formula, C 8 H 6 6 , from which, if we take C 2 4 , or two equiva- 
lents of carbonic acid, there will remain C 6 H 6 2 , or one equi- 
valent of pyroacetic spirit. 
By the action of sulphuric acid upon pyroacetic spirit, suc- 
cessive portions of oxygen and hydrogen, in the proportion 
to form water, are abstracted, and two new compounds pro- 
duced. To these Mr. Kane has given the names of mesity- 
lene and mesitic ether, and to complete the regularity of the 
series adopts mesitic alcohol as the name for the pyroacetic 
spirit. 
Of Mesitylene. 
When mesitic alcohol is mixed with sulphuric acid, heat is 
evolved, the mixture assumes a brown color, and sulphurous 
acid is produced, when the sulphuric acid is in great excess. 
The products vary with the proportion of the ingredients; 
among them,however,are tobefound mesitylene, mesitic ether, 
and a waxy solid. To prepare mesitylene, it is consequently 
necessary to be careful as to the proportions. The following 
proportions are recommended by Mr. Kane: — Take two vo- 
lumes of pure mesitic alcohol, and one volume of sulphuric 
acid, these are to be mixed and carefully distilled by a well 
regulated heat. There comes over a watery liquor, strongly 
impregnated with sulphuric acid, and a yellowish oil, which 
swims upon the surface of the liquid. This oil amounts to 
about one-fourth of the mesitic alcohol used. It is to be se- 
parated from the liquid by decantation, washed with water, 
and distilled by means of a water bath. When, by these 
means, the mesitic alcohol is separated, the temperature is to 
be increased, so that the mesitylene may come over. Care, 
however, is to be taken, not to proceed too far with the dis- 
tillation, or the product may be rendered impure. It is now 
