IV. On isoprene and caoutchine

Abstract

This paper contains the results of the investigation of the two principal hydrocarbons produced by destructive distillation of caoutchouc and gutta percha. Isoprene . This substance is an exceedingly volatile hydrocarbon, boiling between 37° and 38°C.; after repeated cohobations over sodium, it was distilled and analysed. The numbers obtained as the mean of five analyses were as follows:— Three of the specimens were from caoutchouc and two from gutta percha. The vapour-density was found to be at 58°C. 2·40. Theory requires, for C 10 H 8 = 4 volumes, 2·35. The density of the liquid was 0·6823 at 20°C.