ver in distillation is somewhat changed by the process, and is
not exactly of the same nature with what remains in the alembic, but
seems less oxygenated: This circumstance has not been formerly observed
by chemists.

Distillation is not sufficient for depriving this acid of all its
unnecessary water; and, for this purpose, the best way is by exposing it
to a degree of cold from 4 deg. to 6 deg. below the freezing point, from
19 deg. to 23 deg. of Fahrenheit; by this means the aqueous part becomes
frozen, and leaves the acid in a liquid state, and considerably
concentrated. In the usual temperature of the air, this acid can only
exist in the gasseous form, and can only be retained by combination with
a large proportion of water. There are other chemical processes for
obtaining the acetous acid, which consist in oxygenating the tartarous,
oxalic, or malic acids, by means of nitric acid; but there is reason to
believe the proportions of the elements of the radical are changed
during this process. Mr Hassenfratz is at present engaged in repeating
the experiments by which these conversions are said to be produced.

The combinations of acetous acid with the various salifiable bases are
very readily formed; but most of the resulting neutral salts are not
cristallizable, whereas those produced by the tartarous and oxalic acids
are, in general, hardly soluble. Tartarite and oxalat of lime are not
soluble in any sensible degree: The malats are a medium between the
oxalats and acetites, with respect to solubility, and the malic acid is
in the middle degree of saturation between the oxalic and acetous acids.
With this, as with all the acids, the metals require to be oxydated
previous to solution.

The ancient chemists knew hardly any of the salts formed by the
combinations of acetous acid with the salifiable bases, except the
acetites of potash, soda, ammoniac, copper, and lead. Mr Cadet
discovered the acetite of arsenic[47]; Mr Wenzel, the Dijon academicians
Mr de Lassone, and Mr Proust, made us acquainted with the properties of
the other acetites. From the property which acetite of potash possesses,
of giving out ammoniac in distillation, there is some reason to suppose,
that, besides charcoal and hydrogen, the acetous radical contains a
small proportion of azote, though it is not impossible but the above
production of ammoniac may be occasioned by the decomposition of the
potash.

TABLE _of the Combinations of Acetic Acid