4299. Acetate of Ethyl

4299.   Acetate of Ethyl. Heat together in a retort, 3 parts acetate of potassium, 3 parts strong alcohol, and 2 parts oil' of vitriol. The distilled product is mixed with water to separate the alcohol; digested first with a little chalk, and afterwards with fused chloride of calcium; lastly, it is rectified. A fragrant, limpid liquid, having a density of .890, and boiling at 165° Fahr. (Fownes.)

4300. Valerianate of Ethyl

4300.     Valerianate of Ethyl. Pass dry hydrochloric acid gas through an alcoholic solution of valerianic acid. Its odor resembles butyric ether.

4301. Amyl

4301.    Amyl. This is the basis of the fusel oil compounds; fusel oil being the oxide of amyl. It is a colorless, ethereal liquid, boiling at 311° Fahr. Like ethyl, its acid compounds are most used. (See No. 1440 (Amylic Alcohol).)

4302. Acetate of Amyl

4302.    Acetate of Amyl. Mix together 1 part fusel oil and 2 parts dry acetate of potassa (potassium - Fownes); add 1 part concentrated sulphuric acid, and distill. Purify the distillate by washing it with a dilute solution of potassa, and again distill it from dry chloride of calcium. (Cooley.) Acetate of amyl, diluted with alcohol, forms the essence of Jargonelle or Bergamot pear.

4303. Valerianate of Amyl

4303.     Valerianate of Amyl. Mix carefully 4 parts fusel oil with 4 parts sulphuric acid; when cold, add 5 parts valerianic acid. Warm the mixture for a few minutes in a water-bath, then mix it with a little water, which causes the ether to separate. Purify this by washing it with water, and a weak solution of carbonate of soda. An alcoholic solution of valerianate of amyl constitutes apple essence.

4304. Methyl

4304.    Methyl. This is the basis of methylic alcohol or pyroxylic spirit, forming compounds with the acids, analogous to those of ethyl.

4305. Valerianic Acid

4305.     Valerianic Acid. A volatile, fatty acid, obtained by distilling valerian root along with water, and acting on the product with caustic potassa, when valerianate of potassa is formed, and a volatile oil is separated; by evaporating to dryness, the latter is dissipated, and the dry mixture, treated with dilute sulphuric acid and distilled, yields an aqueous solution of valerianic acid. By careful redistillation it may be deprived of water. Valerianic acid may also be produced artificially, by heating fused potassa along with the oil of potato, or cop spirit, when valerianate of potassa is obtained, the acid of which is identical in all respects with that obtained from the root of valerian. (Liebig.) It is colorless, limpid, oleaginous; boils at 270° Fahr.; soluble in alcohol and ether, and in 30 parts of water; smells strongly of valerian; with the bases it forms salts called valerianates, most of which are soluble.