SUCCINIC GROUP. The generic name of succinic acid and its derivatives.
Suceinic add (2HO, C„II.0,,1 exists naturally in Aussn (succinum), from which resin it was first obtained as one of the products of de structive distillation. In combination with potash it also occurs in the milky juices of the leaves and stems of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). It may be artificially prepared from stcaric acid or other fatty matter by oxidation with nitric acid : in this reaction, pimelic and Millie acids are also formed, as well as a body that was at first thought to be a distinct acid (lipic add), but which has since been shown to be identical with, succinic acid. The most advantageous method of forming enceinic acid is that known as Dessaigue's, and con sists in fermenting crude malate of lime with eight or nine per cent. of decayed cheese and three times its weight of water. The mixture must be kept at a temperature of 100° Fehr. for about a week, when the malate will be found to be changed to a crystalline sediment of succinato and carbonate of lime, acetate of lime remaining in solution. The precipitate decomposed by boiling dilute sulphuric acid, and the solution evaporated and treated with animal charcoal furnishes the acid in rhomblo prisms or tables Succinic acid is inodorous and colourless, has an acid taste, and is very stable. It is very soluble in hot water, moderately so in cold water or alcohol, and only slightly soluble in ether. When heated it fuses at a temperature somewhere about 450° Fahr.; and above that point sublimes and condenses in a beautifully white crystalline mass of succinic anhydride complete dehydration can, however, only be effected when the succinic acid has been previously mixed with phosphoric anhydride. Succinic acid is not acted on by nitric acid, chromic: acid, chlorine, or even a mixture of hydrochloric acid and chlorate of potash. Heated with candle potash it yields oxalate of the base and a carburetted hydrogen ; and furnishes acetic acid by distillation with peroxide of manganese and acetic acid.
Succinates are, for the most part, either neutral salts (2 MO, or acid salts (MO, HO, They are tolerably stable, and are characterised by giving a red-brown precipitate with permits of iron.
Neutral succinate of potash contains (2 KO, 0,11,0,, + 4 Aq.); acid succinate of potash (KO, HO, C,11,0,+4 Aq.) The latter is the salt contained in wormwood ; it crystallises in regular six-sided prisms, and is prepared by saturating a given quantity of succinic acid with car bonate of potash, and then adding a second quantity of the acid. Succinate of ammonia (2 N 11,0, is sometimes employed to separate iron from nickel, cobalt, and manganese ; the solutions must be perfectly neutral. Succinate of soda has been electrolysed by Kolbe; carbonic acid and oxide of methyl are evolved at the positive pole. Double saccinate of magnesia and potash contains (KO, MgO, 5 Aq.).
Succinate of ethyl (succinic ether) (2 is a liquid of specific gravity, I.036 ; boiling point, 4171° Fahr.; it is obtained on distilling 'mem= acid with alcohol and sulphurio acid ; chlorine con verts it into white scimitar crystals of perchlorosuccinate of perchlorethyl (chlorosuccinic ether). The last-named body, by distillation, yields chlorosuccide (C,C1,0.,); and by action of alkalies gives a Balt containing chlorosuccic acid Sulphosuccinic acid (3110, 2 SO,+ 2 Aq.) is produced when anhydrous sulphuric acid and succinic acid are brought into contact. When pure it occurs in granular crystals, very soluble in water, alcohol, or ether; it is deliquescent, and requires three equivalents of base to saturate it.
Seecinic aryeldoride, or chloride of tuccinyl is a colourless highly refracting oil, obtained on distilling equivalent quantities of succinic anhydride and oxychloride of phosphorus. It fumes strongly, has a suffocating odour, boils at about 374° Fehr., and has a specific gravity of 1.39.
Succinyl may be assumed to exist not only in the above compound, but also in all the other members of this group. If it exists it is diatomic, and plays the part of two equivalents of hydrogen.
Succinic amides are three in number. 1. Succinamide (C,H,N,O, = N,H, ). This substance is slowly formed, in colourless .1 If, crystalline grains, on exposing a mixture of succinate of ethyl with twice its volume of strong solution of ammonia. It is insoluble in alcohol or ether and almost insoluble in cold water ; boiling water readily dissolves it, and the solution does not precipitate metallic salts.
C,I1,0," Succin a n ilide, or diphenylsuccindiamide 20 .= N2 i is the insoluble product of the action of succinic acid upon aniline. 2. ,S'acciaande acid seems to have been obtained as a silver salt, but has not yet been isolated. Succinanilic acid, or phenylsuccina " raie acid, contains 3 C , , HO). 3. Succinimide, or Usuccinimide + 2 Aq.), is a product of the transformation of auccinamide by heat. It crystallises in beautiful rhombic tables, is very soluble in water, less so in alcohol, and slightly so in ether. It melts at 410° Fehr. It is isomeric with succinamic acid, but does not combine with potash. Chlorosuccinimide, or elilorozosuccic acid NO,), results from the action of ammonia on chlorosuccinic ether. It may be easily separated from other bodies that are simultaneously funned, and then occurs in prisms ; it is volatile, soluble in alcohol or and decomposes carbonates with effervescence. Succinanile or phenyeurcinireide (C,If is that part of the product of the action of succinic acid upon aniline that is soluble in hot water. Purified by recrystallisation from alcohol, it forms beautiful colourless needles, insoluble in cold water, and volatile without decomposition.