The product thus obtained, when rectified from a little dry caustic potash to remove coloring matter and acetic and valerianic acid, and again rectified from dry quick lime to remove water, gives pure hydrated oxide of amyl.
The residue left in the copper still is most easily obtained by distillation with water, containing a little carbonate of soda to neutralise the free acids contained in it. A small quantity of a yellow oil is thus obtained, having an agreeable vinous odor similar to œnanthic ether, but unlike that ether it yields fusel oil, instead of alcohol, when distilled repeatedly from caustic potash. It is consequently an amyl compound, while œnanthic ether is known to be the œnanthate of oxide of ethyle.
The residue remaining in the still after the above distillation with water, consists of acetic and valerianic acids in combination with the soda, and the solution holds in suspension a considerable quantity of byrated oxide of iron, which formerly existed in combination with the acids. {259}
From the above statement it appears that crude fusel oil contains the following substances, viz:—
- Alcohol,
- Water,
- Hydrated oxide of amyl,
- Acetic acid,
- Valerianic acid,
- Oxide of iron.
And an amyl compound, analagous to œnanthic ether.
EASY METHOD TO MAKE HYPOSULPHITE OF SODA. BY JOHN C. TALLON.
Happening to inquire the price of hyposulphite of soda of a wholesale druggist, it appeared to me that the cost of its production is greatly under the wholesale price, I therefore suggest to apothecaries who may wish to make it pure, for their own consumption, the following: Through a saturated solution of sal soda (ascertained to be free from sulphate) pass sulphurous acid gas until a small quantity, taken out of the solution after agitation, on the end of a glass rod, gives a white precipitate with nitrate of silver; then put the solution into a beaker glass, and boil it with sulphur (about one-twentieth of the weight of the soda in solution) until a little of the liquid, put into a test glass, gives, with a few drops of hydrochloric acid, a precipitate of sulphur, and another portion with nitrate of silver a white precipitate, immediately turning yellow and then black, when the liquid is to be filtered and evaporated quickly, until the salt be crystallized quite dry. The crystals are to be put into a closely stopped bottle, and kept well secured from the atmosphere. The advantage of this process over the common one is that it can be made in the store without any annoyance from the stench of melted sulphur; it costs but little and does not require the continued attention of the operator.
709 Greenwich Street, New York, August 12, 1852.