210 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
I. II. I. II. 
Equivalent to carbon, 
hydrogen, 
The remainder being chlorine, 
.176 .266 or in 100 parts 50. 48 45 
.016 .024 4.6 4.37 
45.4 47.18 
100. 
100. 
The formula deduced from which is C 6 H 3 C1, the chlorine, 
apparently, replacing an atom of the hydrogen of the mesity- 
lene, the other elements remaining the same. 
Iodide of ptelyl is the substance left in the form of yellow 
scales in the retort, after the distillation of iodide of mesityl. 
Its properties are analogous to those of the chloride. Suffi- 
cient was not obtained for analysis, but from analogy its 
composition is supposed to be C°H 3 I, the iodine replacing an 
atom of hydrogen. 
By the action of nitric acid upon mesitic alcohol, two fluids 
are obtained, to which the names of hyponitrite of ptelyl and 
mesitic aldehyd are given. The action of the two substances 
on each other is very violent, and copious red fumes are pro- 
duced. If the mixture be heated, the action is explosive; but 
the process may be conducted with safety by alternately 
slightly warming and then cooling the mixture, and finally, 
when the action has ceased, on the addition of five or six 
volumes of water, a pale yellow fluid subsides, which may be 
freed from acid by washing, and subsequently dried by 
chloride of calcium. The liquid thus obtained may be 
separated in two parts, one thin and fluid, the other semi-fluid, 
but both heavier than water. The thin fluid is of dark brown 
color, its odor and taste penetrating and sweetish; it is ex- 
plosive by heat, and soon decomposes when in contact with 
water. To this liquid the name of hyponitrite of ptelyl is 
given, but it could not be obtained sufficiently free from the 
thicker liquid to afford on analysis satisfactory results. The 
formula C 6 H 3 4 N, or C 6 H 3 0+N0 3 , is given as its probable 
composition. 
The thick heavy liquid is denominated mesitic aldehyd, or 
hydrate of ptelyl. This may be obtained pure, by boiling 
nitric acid with mesitylene. It is a reddish yellow, thick, 
