Carl Jacob Löwig

“ If spiroilic acid be slightly heated with potassium over mercury, a most violent evolution of heat and light suddenly takes place, by which the vessel is always broken with great violence. Even should excess of potassium be employed in this experiment, only a portion of the spiroilic acid is decomposed; a porous carbon is deposited, and a mixture of spiroilide of potassium and carbonate of potash is formed. ”

“ If a concentrated solution of ammonia is poured upon pure hydrospiroilic acid, the fluid mixture after a few seconds is converted into a solid mass of hydrospiroilate of ammonia, giving out heat and undergoing a considerable increase of bulk during the action: it may be freed from water and excess of acid by washing with alcohol. It possesses a weak aromatic smell resembling a rose, is tasteless, and has a yellow colour. The compound is almost insoluble in water, which nevertheless when left for some time in contact with it, acquires a yellow colour. ”

“ Chloride of spiroil may be obtained by decomposing hydrospiroilic acid by means of chlorine. In a suitable apparatus and without the application of heat, dry chlorine gas was passed over the anhydrous acid; evolution of muriatic acid immediately commenced: if the chlorine be evolved but slowly, only a slight elevation of temperature takes place. Chlorine is to be passed through this solution so long as fumes of muriatic acid are evolved: the hydrospiroilic acid is entirely converted into a white crystalline mass. ”

“ Concentrated sulphuric acid converts the oil into a black carbonaceous mass. Chlorine and bromine decompose it instantaneously, hydrochloric or hydrobromic acid and chloride or bromide of spiroil being formed. Nitric acid, if not too concentrated, immediately forms spiroilic acid; if however the acid be very concentrated and fuming, it immediately changes it into a yellow, very volatile, bitter-tasting compound, having the appearance of butter. ”

“ The reader must excuse the circumstances that the experiments are not carried further, and that some of the most important appearances when remarked have not been further pursued, as for all the experiments, there was only a very small quantity of material at the disposal of the experimenter. ”

“ The best combination of spiroil to employ is the hydrospiroilate of ammonia, over which the concentrated solution of the salt is to be poured. The spiroilide of barium, which is be&t obtained by saturating baryta water with the acid, may be advantageously employed in the state of a solution for the preparation of several of the compounds of spiroil. The compounds as obtained by double decomposition are seldom crystalline, but are obtained almost always as a fine and soft powder. ”

“ The oil is heavier than water, is of a light yellow colour, and possesses the odour of the blossoms in a very great degree. It mixes in all proportions with alcohol and æther, and is slightly soluble in water. It causes a burning sensation on the tongue. ”

“ The most striking proof, however, that the oil is really a hydracid is, that when potassium is brottght into contact vjith the oil over mercury and gently warmed, hydrogen is evolved, spiroilide of potassium being formed, from which latter the oil may again be obtained, possessed of all its original properties, by the action of muriatic acid. ”

“ It is inflammable, and burns with a shining smoky flame. If the oil be passed through a red-hot tube containing pieces of iron, neither ammonia nor prussic acid is obtained nor can the formation of any sulphuret of iron be detected. The oil does not experience any change either in dry or moist oxygen gas; it volatilizes unchanged. It solidifies at a temperature of – 20° *. Its boiling-point is about + 85°*, when it evaporates entirely without leaving any residue. ”

“ WHILST by the examination of plants and vegetable matters we have acquired the knowledge of a great number of oxyacids with compound radicals, with the exception of prussic acid no such hydracid has been shown to exist in organic nature ”

“ The product of the distillation is however subjected to a redistillation till about 1⁄5th is come over in the receiver. A concentrated aqueous solution of the oil is thus obtained, and the oil itself, though only in very minute quantities. ”