A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

THE CARBON COMPOUNDS. 165
Thifl acid has been obtained by treating tertiary butyl iodide with
mercuric cyanide, and decomposing the nitrile thus formed with
alcoholic potash. The pure acid boils at 161°, and solidities on cooling
to a glassy mass mixed with crystals, melting at 35°. It has a
pungent acid taste, and a faint sour smell. The, corresponding alcohol
is not known.
HEXYL GROUP.
Four paraffins having the formula CaH14 are known:—
Hexano. Dimothyl- Tctrainothyl- 'frimothylnropyltnetliaue.
ethuno. ethylmothanc
CHS CH3CH3 CH3CH3 Cff3
i X C
^H H3C-C-CH3
CH,
(;H2
CH
AH2 CH>H 3 Clf>
C: «s
(1) DERIVATIVES OF HEXANK.
ffexane, or Hexyl Hydride.—This hydrocarbon occurs in the light
oils obtained in the destructive distillation of boghead and cannel coal,
and in large quantities in Pennsylvania petroleum. Pure hexane is
also formed by acting upon propyl iodide with sodittm.or by treating
the secondary hexyl iodide with zinc and hydrochloric acid. By
passing dry chlorine gas into the vapour of boiling hexnue a mixture
of primary and secondary propyl chloride ia formed, from which, by
heating with glacial acetic acid and potassium acetate, the acetic
ethers are obtained. On treating these acetates with an alcoholic
solution of caustic potash the alcohols aTe formed, which cannot be
completely separated by fractional distillation, as the difference between
their boiling-points is only 15°.
Primary Hexyl Alcohol B ^ [ 0.—The essential oil of Heraclcum
yiganteum consists chiefly of a mixture of hexyl butyrate and octyl
acetate. By saponifying these ethers with caustic potnsh the alcohols
are set free, and can easily be separated by distillation. Hexyl alcohol
boils at 157°, and possesses a pleasant aromatic odour. Hexyl
iodide C6HWI is a heavy, colourless liquid, boiling at 179 O# 5. The