Glacial Acetic Acid

Syn. Acidum aceticum glaciale . Acetate of soda, 20 oz., is liquefied by a gentle heat, stirred till it becomes pulverulent, and then further heated until it fuses; it is at once removed from the fire, and, when cool, the ma is broken up, placed in a 3-pint stoppered retort connected with a Liebig’s condenser, and then treated with sulphuric acid, 8 fl. oz. When the distillation slackens heat is to be applied, and the proce continued until 6 fl. oz. of acetic acid have pa ed over. If a little of the product strikes a blue colour when mixed with a solution of iodate of pota ium containing mucilage of starch, the whole product must be agitated with perfectly dry black oxide of manganese, 1 ⁄ 4 oz., and redistilled. Sp. gr. 1·065; contains 85% of anhydrous acid.