Home › Miscellaneous Chemicals › Valerianic Acid

Valerianic Acid

A volatile, fatty acid, obtained by distilling valerian root along with water, and acting on the product with caustic potassa, when valerianate of potassa is formed, and a volatile oil is separated; by evaporating to dryness, the 4296. Enanthic Ether-named also latter is dissipated, and the dry mixture, ænanthylate of ethyl, and pelargonic ether treated with dilute sulphuric acid and distilled, (see No. 1471)-is colorless, and has a power- yields an aqueous solution of valerianic acid. ful intoxicating vinous odor. Its specific By careful redistillation it may be deprived gravity is .862, and boils at 480° Fahr. It is of water. Valerianic acid may also be proobtained towards the end of the distillation duced artificially, by heating fused potassa of fermented liquors, especially wines, and along with the oil of potato, or corn spirit, purified by agitation with a weak solution of when valerianate of potassa is obtained, the carbonate of potassa. (Cooley.) This ether acid of which is identical in all respects with that obtained from the root of valerian. ing moisture and sulphur by distilling it at a (Liebig.) It is colorless, limpid, oleaginous; low temperature from chloride of calcium. boils at 270° Fahr.; soluble in alcohol and 4311.

Bisulphide or Bisulphuret of ether, and in 30 parts of water; smells strongly of valerian; with the bases it forms salts called VALERIANATES, most of which are soluble.