The Medical Student's Manual of Chemistry (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 Excerpt: ...root and in angelica root. It is formed during putrid fermentation or oxidation' of albuminoid substances. It occurs in the urine and faeces in typhus, variola, and f acute atrophy of the liver. It is also formed in a variety of chemical reactions, and notably by the oxidation of amylic alcohol. It is prepared either by distilling water from valerian root, or, more economically, by mixing rectified amylic alcohol with HaSO, adding when cold, a solution of potassium dichromate, and distilling after the reaction has become moderated: the distillate is neutralized with sodium carbonate; and the acid is obtained from the sodium valerianate so produced, by decomposition by HaS0. and rectification. The ordinary valerianic acid is an oily, colorless liquid, having a penetrating odor, and a sharp, acrid taste. It solidifies at--16 (3.2 F.); boils at 173'-175 (343.4-347 F.); sp. gr. 0.9343-0.9465 at 20 (68 F.); burns with a white, smoky flame. It dissolves in 30 parts of water, and in alcohol and ether in all proportions. It dissolves phosphorus, camphor, and certain resins. IV. Trimethyl acetic acid--Pivalic acid--is a crystalline solid, which fuses at 35.5 (96 F.) and boils at 163.7 (326.7 F.); sparingly soluble in Ha0; obtained by the action of cyanid of mercury upon tertiary butyl iodid. Caproic acids--Hexylic acids--C, H, a, COOH--116.--There probably exist quite a number of isomeres having the composition indicated above, some of which have been prepared from butter, cocoa-oil, and cheese, and by decomposition of amyl cyanid, or of hexyl alcohol. The acid obtained from butter, in which it exists as a glyceric ether, is a colorless, oily liquid, boils at 205 (401 F.); sp. gr. 0.931 at 15 (59 F.); has an odor of perspiration and a sharp, acid taste; is very sparin...