5d 
CONSTITUTION  OF  COAL-TAR  CREOSOTE. 
cresyle  is  decomposed  in  like  manner  with  the  hydrate  of  phenyle, 
as  described  by  Mr.  Scrugham,  yielding  a  chloride  of  cresyle  and 
a  phosphate  of  the  same  radical. 
By  the  action  of  this  phosphate  in  an  alcoholic  solution  of 
acetate  of  potash,  a  peculiar  oleaginous  body  is  obtained,  pos- 
sessing an  odor  entirely  different  from  that  of  the  hydrate,  and 
decomposable  by  potash  with  production  of  acetate  and  cresylate. 
A  similar  reaction  ensues  when  the  phosphate  is  distilled  with 
ethylate  of  potash,  and  a  cresylate  of  ethyle  is  thus  obtained. 
In  the  numerous  distillations  which  were  performed  for  the 
purification  of  the  hydrate  of  cresyle,  some  circumstances  were 
observed  which  led  to  a  suspicion  that  the  body  undergoes  a  change 
of  composition,  either  through  the  distillation  itself,  or  by  some 
influences  accompanying  it.  These  circumstances  were, — 1st.  A 
tarry  residue,  from  a  liquid  which  when  introduced  into  the  retort 
was  perfectly  colorless.  2nd.  The  formation  of  a  small  quantity 
of  water  in  the  commencement  of  such  a  distillation,  though  none 
was  contained  in  the  substance  used.  3d.  The  gradual  lowering  ©f 
the  boiling-point  of  the  whole  liquid  by  a  great  number  of  distil- 
lations. These  facts,  taken  in  conjunction,  naturally  suggested 
that  the  oxygen  of  the  air  contained  in  the  retort  might  act 
upon  the  substance,  and  thus  gradually  reduce  it  to  hydrate  of 
phenyle. 
In  order  to  test  the  correctness  of  this  hypothesis,  the  atmosphe- 
ric air  was  expelled  from  the  distilling  apparatus  by  dry  hydrogen 
gas,  and  the  distillation  performed  in  a  pure  atmosphere  of  this 
gas.  A  great  number  of  distillations  performed  in  this  manner 
were  at  exactly  the  same  temperature,  and  all  the  other  anomalies 
were  simultaneously  removed.  It  was  however  found  that  the 
liquid  always  boiled  at  a  lower  temperature  in  hydrogen  than  in 
atmospheric  air,  the  difference  being  about  2°  Cent.,  and  this 
without  any  alteration  of  the  pressure  on  the  surface  of  the  boiling 
liquid.  A  similar  fact  w7as  noticed  in  the  distillation  of  hydrate 
of  phenyle,  and  also  of  some  other  liquids. — Chem.  Gaz.,  Oct.  2» 
from  Proc.  Royal  Society,  June  15th,  1854. 
