A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

THS CARBON COMPOUNDS, 235
in cold water, and still less so in alcohol. It melts at 170°, and at a
higher temperature it is resolved into carbon dioxide and amylatnine.
On fusing it with 'caustic potash, it yields potassium carbonate, am*
monia, and potassium valeiate. By heating it with fuming hydiiodio
acid it is converted into isocapioic acid,
By dissolving it in dilute nitric acid, and passing nitrio trioxide
into this solution, nitrogen is given off, and leucic acid C.H,j(OH)Oj, is
formed, crystallizing ra'needles, melting at 73°, and subliming readily
below 100°.
By the action of zinc and ethyl iodide upon etbyl oxalate an acid
isomeric with leucic acid, called diethoxalic add, has been obtained.
It crystallizes in large prisms melting at 74 O> 5. The isomerism of
leucic acid and diethoxalic acid is explained by the following
formulae;—
Leucic Acid. Diethoxalic Acid.
CH8CH3
CHaCH,
Y 1 AH, CH2
CH, OOH
0H.OH CO.< JO.OH
CO.OH
Whether the leucins of differeut origin are identical, or whether
perhaps some are derived from normal valerianic or pentylic acid,
is a question which has yet to be decided.
ACIDS OF THE SERIES Cn
The. acids of this series containing more than 5 atoms of carbon
are formed, together with succinio acid, by oxidizing fats with nitric
acid. From the mixture thus obtained pure acids cannot be isolated
by recrystallization from water, but they may be separated by means
of ether, in which some are much more soluble thau others.
The same acids are formed by the action of fuming nitric acid upon
the acids of the series CnH8u_.,O4< which will be described further on.
Adijnc Add C0H,oO4 is conveniently prepared by boiling sebacic
acid with nitrio acid, and recrystalliuing the product from water to
remove succinic acid. The same compound has beeu produced by
heating /8 biomopropionic acid with silver-dust :—
CHaBr CO.OH CO.OH
CH, +CH2 +Ag3 = C4H8 +2AgBr
CO.OH CH,Br CO.OH