A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

THE CARBON COMPOUNDS, 383
forma colourless crystals. This ether is decomposed by alkalis, the
alcohol being formed, a heavy liquid, boiling at 225°, and possessing
an aromatic odour.
StyrolyUthyl Ether OJ^H'OH *" P 10 '* 1106 ' 1 bv heating the
bromide with alcoholic potash or ammonia;—
C6H6.C2H4Br + GftOH + NH8 = r H &5*} 0 + NH4Br
It is a mobile, fragrant liquid, boiling at 187°.
Plwnylacetic or Alphatoluic Add C6H&.CHg.C02H.—This acid was
first obtained by boiling vulpinic acid (see below) with baryta-water.
It has been prepared synthetically from its nitrile, and by heating
bromobenzene and ethyl chloracetate with silver-dust:—
CsH, +C,H,ftp + Ag2 -
A + AgCl + AgBr
Phenylacetic acid forms thin, brilliant plates, melting at 76°*5, and
boiling at 261°, Chromic acid oxidizes it to benzoic acid, and when
heated with lime it yields toluene. With chlorine, bromine, fuming
nitric acid, it gives substitution-products, resembling those of benzoic
acid.
Pkenylaeetonitrik CjHpCHyCN is a liquid resembling benzoaitrile,
and boiling at 229°, It is obtained by distilling benzyl chloride with
potassium cyanide,
Vidpinie Acid C^H^Oj exists in Cetraria vulpina, Parmlia.
parietina, and other lichens, and may be extracted from them by
chloroform. It crystallizes in lemon-yellow thick prisms, melting
at 110°, Boiling baryta-water resolves it into methyl alcohol, oxalic
acid, and phenylacetio acid;—
CIBHMO6 + 4H8O = CH4O + CaH204 + SCgHgO,,
When it is boiled with dilute potash, it yields methyl alcohol,
carbon dioxide, and oxatohiic acid ;-~
Oxatolwie Add forms four-sided prisms, melting at 154°, and is
monobasic like vulpinic acid. Concentrated boiling potash resolves
it into oxalic acid and toluene:—
CMH16OS + II2O = CjHgC^ + 20,118
Methyl'phenyl Ketone, or Acetyl-bemenc C0H«.CO.CH3, is obtained
by distilling a mixtuie of calcium benzoate ana acetate.
It ia a limpid liquid, boiling at 198°. By dissolving it in cold
concentrated nitric acid, it ia converted iuto methyl-mowniitrophaiyl
kctone CJH^NOJCO.CHJ, wl.ich crjstnllizea in needlos. An isomeride