SEBACIC GROUT'. A small chase of chemical compounds belong ing to the pelargouic series in Gerhardee arrangement. The principal member is sciatic acid.
Schack add 2110) or evade acid is always obtaiued when oleic acid or an oil containing oleic acid is distilled. It is most advantageously prepared by the action of a hot and very strong solu tion of caustic potash upon castor oil. The ricinolic acid of the castor oil is thus split up into sebacie acid, eaprylic alcohol, and free hydrogen. Sebacie acid is soluble in hot water, and crystallises out from a boiling solution of the rebate of potash, produced as just indicated, on the addition of hydrochloric acid. It forms white lamellar or acieular crystals, of the appearance of benzoic acid ; is very soluble in alcohol, ether, or oils; redden.; litmus paper ; melte when heated to 260° Fehr., and at a higher temperature sublimes. Nitric acid converts it
into succinic acid.
Sebacic acid is bibasic, forming neutral schates of the formula 2310, and acid salts containing The alkaline salts are nearly all crystalline and soluble in water ; from them the other rebates are prepared by double decomposition. Sebate of methyl or methyl scbacie ether contains ; by contact with ammonia it gradually yields schamide in crystalline grains, the mother liquor containing sgamic acid Ipomic acid seems to be identical with sebacic acid. Jalap (ipomea purge) resin yields rhodcoretic acid when acted on by bases, and rhodcoretic acid furnishes ipomic acid on being oxidised by nitric acid. The fusing point of ipomic acid is 40 degrees below that of sebacic acid, but in every other respect it resembles the latter body.