ON PYROACETIC SPIRIT. 205 
to be digested upon chloride of calcium for twenty-four hours, 
and again distilled to free it from any adhering water. Me- 
sitylene, thus obtained, is a light, colorless, oily liquid, with 
an odor of garlic; it burns with a white flame, giving off much 
smoke; it boils at 276° F.; it is not affected by the alkalies. 
Its composition, as ascertained by Mr. Kane from the mean 
of three experiments, is six equivalents of carbon and four 
equivalents of hydrogen, and is represented by the formula 
C & H 4 , and is, consequently, formed by the abstraction of the 
elements of water from the pyroacetic spirit. 
Of Mesitic Ether. 
This is formed by mixing equal volumes of mesitic alcohol 
and sulphuric acid, the vessel in which the mixture is made 
being surrounded by cold water. When the mixture is cold, 
twice its volume of water is to be added, when, on being 
allowed to rest for a time, a thick fluid rises to the top, and is 
to be separated by the pipette, and purified by distillation. 
The quantity thus obtained is small. It may, however, be 
procured more easily and abundantly from the chloride of 
mesityl, a liquid to be hereafter described. Chloride of 
mesityl is to be dissolved in alcohol, and an alcoholic solution 
of potassa added in excess, the liquid being kept warm; after- 
wards, six or eight times its volume of water is to be added. 
On standing, a thick oily fluid will rise to the surface; this is 
to be decanted, purified from water by chloride of calcium, 
and distilled. The liquid first obtained contains mesitic alco- 
hol, and is to be taken away and the temperature increased, 
on which mesitic ether comes over. This is a limpid, color- 
less, and very fluid liquid, of an aromatic odor, like peppermint; 
it burns with a luminous, smoky flame, and boils at 248° F. 
It enters into combination with acids to form salts. It is 
composed of six equivalents of carbon, five of hydrogen, and 
one of oxygen, and its formula is C 6 H 5 0. 
The elements of mesitic ether and alcohol may be considered 
as combining to form the proximate constituents of these 
bodies in two different modes. In the one case, the carbon 
VOL. iv, — no. in. 27 
