Acetic acid Cellulose 31.6 70.0 30.9 68.8 Calc. for diacetate on C_{12}H_{20}O_{10} 29.4 79.9 The interpretation of these numbers appears to be this: in the original reaction with the lignocellulose it is the cellulose residue which is acetylated, and at the same time condensed. The cellulose residue which undergoes condensation is not of the normal constitution, since the normal cellulose is acetylated without condensation (see p. 41). On saponification a portion of the cellulose, in again combining with water, is hydrolysed to soluble products. The lignone group as it exists in the lignocellulose has no free OH groups, and probably no free aldehydic groups such as would react with the anhydride. Such groups may, however, be originally present, and may take part in the internal condensations which have been shown to occur. The furfural constants of the lignocellulose are unaffected by the acetylation and condensation. The hygroscopic moisture of the product is lowered from 10-11 p.ct. in the original to 4.5 p.ct. The ferric ferricyanide reaction is inhibited by the disappearance of the reactive groups, upon which this curious and characteristic phenomenon depends (1st ed.). ~Acetylation of Benzoates.~--The cellulose dibenzoate (C_{12} basis) and the jute monobenzoate were acetylated under comparative conditions The results were as follows: C_{12} basis Cellulose dibenzoate Jute monobenzoate Calc. for Calc. for Found diacetate on Found diacetate on Ester reaction dibenzoate monobenzoate Yield 111 p.ct. 115 p.ct. 124 p.ct. 120 p.ct. Saponification {Cellulose} {Lignocellulose} 53.5 52.6 59.8 61.9 NaOH combining 21.3 23.9 28.4 24.3 From these results it would appear that the number of acetyl groups entering the benzoates is the same as with the unbenzoylated fibres, the benzoyl has no influence upon the hydroxyls as against the acetyl. At the same time the internal condensation noticed in the acetylation of the jute appears not to occur in the case of the benzoate. ~Nitric Esters.~--The numbers resulting from the quantitative study of the ester reaction and product (1st ed. p. 133) show a very large divergence of the yield of product from that which would be calculated from its composition (N p.ct.) on the assumption that the ester reaction is simple. We have repeated the results, and find with a yield of 145 p.ct. that the product contains 11.8 p.ct. N. The reaction C_{12}H_{18}O_{9} + 4HNO_{3} - 4H_{2}O