A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

272 THE CHEMISTRY OF
Stearoxylic Acid C18H8?O4 crystallizes in shining plates, melting at
86°; it is a monobasic aoid.
Azeluic Aldehyde GgH^O. is a tliin, oily liquid possessing an ethereal
smell. By the action of bromine and water, or nitric acid, it is
oxidized to azelaic acid.
When stearolic acid is fused with caustic potash, it is first converted
into an acid having the composition of hypogceic add C10Ha0O2, and
by the further aotioa of the potash it is converted into myristic acid
Cj^HjgOj. These reactions prove that stearolic acid contains the group
C=C twice.
Erucic Add C«H42O8 occure in colza-oil and the fatty oil of
mustard-seed, and may be obtained from these oils in the same
way as oleic acid is prepared from oil of almonds. It crystallizes
in long needles, melting at 34°. With nitric trioxide and bromine
it behaves like oleic acid. By acting with caustic potash on its
dibrotnide, beheiwlic acid CaHttOj is formed, which is oxidized by
fuming nitric acid to behenmylic acid C^H^O^, brassic add C^H^O^,
and brassic aldehyde CnH^Oj.
The following acids are nearly related to those of tbe oleicseries:-~
Sortie Acid C0HS02 occurs in the berries of the mountain ash. On
distilling their juice, impure sorbic acid passes over as an oily liquid,
from which, by treating it with alkalis and decomposing the salt with
acids, the pure compound is obtained. It crystallizes in long needles,
welting at 134 O> 5 and distilliug at 228°, with partial decomposition.
Nascent hydrogen converts it into hjdrosorhic acid C9H1OO2, a colourless
liquid, boiling at 204 o> 5 and possessing a sweetish smell. It is
i8omeric with pyroterebic acid and ethylcrotonic acid, and is resolved
by fusion with caustic potash into butyric acid and carbon dioxide.
BicinoMc Add Clf,Hj,O8is found as glyceride in castor-oil, and can
be obtained from it by the same process by which oleic acid is prepared
from oil of almonds. It is a colourless oil, solidifying at 0° to a
crystallized mass, Nitric trioxide converts it into solid ricinelaidic
acid.
"When this acid or castor-oil soap is fused with caustic soda,
hydrogen is evolved, and methyl-hexyl cai'binol and sebacic acid
are formed:—
CWHMO8 + 2NaOH = C8HWO + CIOHBO4Na2 + Ha
Eicinoleic acid lias therefore probably the following constitution:—
ZinoleSc Acid.—-This acid has great resemblance to oleic acid, and
occurs in drying oils, such as linseed-oil, poppy-oil, walnut-oil, &c. It
has been very little studied. Its formula appears to be C^H^O^