CAP′RIC ACID

HC 10 H 19 O 2 . Syn. Ru′tic acid ; Acidum cap′ricum , L. An acid discovered by Chevreul, and obtained by decomposing caprate of barium with dilute sulphuric acid, or primarily by the saponification of butter or cocoa-nut oil, when it appears combined with butyric, caproic and caprylic acids. It is also procured by acting upon oleic acid or oil of rue with nitric acid. Obs. When butter is saponified with caustic pota a or soda, and the resulting soap decomposed by adding an acid, in exce , and distilling the mixture, the four acids above named pa over into the receiver, in combination with water. The mixed acids may be separated by saturating them collectively with baryta, and by taking advantage of the unequal solubility of the newly formed barium salts. The le soluble portion (equal to about 1 ⁄ 20 th of the dry ma ) contains capric and caprylic acid; the larger and more soluble portion, butyric and caproic acid. On the same plan the two groups are resolved into their separate acids. These acids are deprived of their uncombined water by means of chloride of calcium. It is advisable to employ the term rutic acid, as the older term is easily confounded with caproic and caprylic. Prop. Capric or rutic acid crystallises in fine needles, which fuse at 86° Fahr., giving out an odour resembling that of a goat. It is sparingly soluble in boiling water. Prep. (Miller.) Castor oil is saponified by means of pota a or soda, and afterwards an exce of the hydrated alkali is added, amounting to one half the oil used. The ma is heated in a retort, and an oily liquid covered with water distils over. This oily liquid, which is the octylic alcohol, is rectified several times with pota a until the residue is no longer coloured brown.— Prop. A colourle liquid, of powerful aromatic odour; insoluble in water, but di olving readily in acetic acid, ether, and alcohol. Its boiling point is 356° Fr., its sp. gr, ·823. The caprylate of ethyl, erroneously termed caprylic ether, is a colourle liquid, with an agreeable odour of pine-apples.