ily soluble in water and alcohol, and is thrown out of its
aqueous solution by the addition of calcium chloride. Potassium bichromate
and sulphuric acid oxidize it to carbon dioxide and acetic acid, while
alkaline potassium permanganate oxidizes it to carbon dioxide. The calcium
salt, Ca(C_4H_7O_2)_2.H_2O, is less soluble in hot water than in cold.

_Isobutyric acid_ is found in the free state in carobs (_Ceratonia
siliqua_) and in the root of _Arnica dulcis_, and as an ethyl ester in
croton oil. It may be artificially prepared by the hydrolysis of
isopropylcyanide with alkalies, by the oxidation of isopropyl alcohol with
potassium bichromate and sulphuric acid (I. Pierre and E. Puchot, _Ann. de
chim. et de phys._, 1873, [4] 28, p. 366), or by the action of sodium
amalgam on methacrylic acid, CH_2.C(CH_3).COOH. It is a liquid of somewhat
unpleasant smell, boiling at 155.5 deg. C. Its specific gravity is 0.9697 (0 deg.).
Heated with chromic acid solution to 140 deg. C., it gives carbon dioxide and
acetone. Alkaline potassium permanganate oxidizes it to
[alpha]-oxyisobutyric acid, (CH_3)_2.C(OH).COOH, whilst concentrated nitric
acid converts it into dinitroisopropane. Its salts are more soluble in
water than those of the normal acid.

BUXAR, or BAXAR, a town of India, in the district of Shahabad, Bengal, on
the south bank of the Ganges, and on the East Indian railway. Pop. (1901)
13,945. There is a dismantled fort of small size which was important from
its commanding the Ganges. A celebrated victory was gained here on the 23rd
of October 1764 by the British forces under Major (afterwards Sir Hector)
Munro, over the united armies of Shuja-ud-Dowlah and Kasim Ali Khan. The
action raged from 9 o'clock till noon, when the enemy gave way. Pursuit
was, however, frustrated by Shuja-ud-Dowlah sacrificing a part of his army
to the safety of the remainder. A bridge of boats had been constructed over
a stream about 2 m. distant from the field of battle, and this the enemy
destroyed before their rear had passed over. Through this act 2000 troops
were drowned, or otherwise lost; but destructive as was this proceeding, it
was, said Major Munro, "the best piece of generalship Shuja-ud-Dowlah
showed that day, because if I had crossed the rivulet with the army, I
should either have taken or drowned his whole army in the Karamnasa, and
come up with his treasure and jewels, and Kasim Ali Khan's jewels, which I
was informed amounted to betwee