Contributions towards the history of caproic and œnanthylic acids / by J.S. Brazier and G. Grossleth.

  • Brazier, James S. (James Smith)
Date:
[1851?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Contributions towards the history of caproic and œnanthylic acids / by J.S. Brazier and G. Grossleth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    at this moment the following members, which we give in juxtaposi¬ tion with their mother acids : Acetic acid C4 H4 04 ; C3 H3 0, Acetone; Propionic acid \ a id o.; a H, 0, f Propione; Metacetic acid ) 0 0 4 > 0 5 (Metacetone; Butvric acid * C3 H8 04 ; C7 H, 0, Butyrone; Valeric acid Cio Hm O4 ; C9 h9 0, Valerone; Caproic acid C12 ^12 ^4 » cn Hu 0, Caprone ; Caprylic acid C13 ^16 04 ; CI5 H15 0, Caprylone ; Margaric aid ^34 1134 ^4 ’ ^33 h3S 0, Margarone; Dumas. berger. This table shows that the ketone of formic acid is still wanting; the series then regularly ascends up to oenanthylic acid, whose deri¬ vative has not yet been prepared ; we perceive, moreover, that a wide gap occurs between caprylic and margaric acid, the filling up of which will require some time and labour. It deserves to be men¬ tioned that one of the terms which we have inserted in the above table, has not hitherto been obtained from the collateral acid. Pro- pione (metacetone) originally prepared by Fremy by distilling sugar, starch, or gum, with lime, has been represented by its discoverer by the formula C6 H5 0; it is probable, however, that Fremy’s substance contains one equiv. of carbon less.* Its properties coincide in almost every respect with propione, as pointed out by theory. Acetone and its congeners have been of late the subject of some interesting speculations on the part of M. Chancel.t The formula which we have given in the above table, represents 2 volumes of va¬ pour, and this is the mode of condensation adopted by the majority of chemists. M. Chancel on the other hand is of opinion, that the ketones, like the hydrocarbons, contain 4 vols. of vapour : he doubles the formulae, and considers these substances as formed by the inti¬ mate combination of ] equivalent of the aldehyde of the acid with 1 equivalent of the hydrocarbon belonging to the group which is placed a step lower on the ladder of organic substances. According to this view, acetone is not represented by C3 II3 o, but by c6 II6 o2 = c4 h4 o2 + c2 h2 ; i.c., it has to be considered as a combination of the aldehyde (joar ex- * Since the above was written, the formation of propione from propionic acid has been made the subject of investigation by Mr. Morlev. He assigns to it the formula we have given above, namely, C5 H5 O.— (Chem. Soc. Qu. J. iv. 1.) f J. Pharm. [3] XIII. 468. B