ON VALERIANIC ACID. 
199 
sequently a basic salt; the 2 equiv. acid wanted to produce 
a neutral salt are replaced by 2 equiv. water. 
Valerianate of Zinc. — 1 part oily valerianic acid is dis- 
solved in ISO parts water, and to the solution h part of 
recently-precipitated carbonate of zinc added; the whole is 
then digested for some hours at a very gentle heat, filtered 
after cooling, and concentrated at a very gentle heat. The 
salt separates on the surface in white snow-like aggrega- 
tions. If the ley be boiled, a portion of the salt adheres 
firmly to the bottom of the vessel. It crystallizes in snow- 
white, extremely light laminse, with a mother-of-pearl lustre, 
similar to boracic acid, is not altered by exposure to the 
air, has a faint odour of the acid, and an astringent metallic 
taste, at the same time resembling that of valerianic acid. 
When heated on platinum foil, it melts, disengages thick 
white vapours, then takes fire, burning with a bluish flame, 
and finally leaves pure oxide of zinc, of which however a 
portion is volatilized during the combustion, owing to a 
partial reduction. It dissolves at the ordinary temperature 
in ICO parts water and in 60 parts alcohol of 0.833 spec, 
grav. The solutions have an acid reaction, become turbid 
on the application of heat, but become again clear on cool- 
ing. Cold aether takes up only 1 -500th ; boiling, on the 
contrary, l-20th of the salt. 
The analysis was executed precisely in. the same manner 
as that of the valerianate of iron. 20 grs. yielded 5.9 grs. 
oxide of zinc and 14 grs. valerianic acid; consequently in 
100 parts — 
Oxide of zinc 29.50 1 30.08 
Valerianic acid 70.00 1 69.92 
The atomic weight is 1672. The salt contains no water. 
Chem, Gaz. from. Bach. Rep. 
