Nomenclature
CAS number: 9000-02-6
Baltic amber; bernstein; succinite.
Description and references
A fossil resin from the extinct pine tree Pinites succinifera (Goepp.) Conway, Pinaceae.
Found along the Baltic coast, also mined in Samland (East Prussia).
Baltic amber contains: C 79%, H 10.5%, O 10.5%; succinic acid 3-8%; α-amyrin
20-30%. Refs: Plonait, Angew.
Chem. 48, 184 (1935); Schmid and co-workers:
Ann. 503, 269 (1933); Monatsh. Chem. 63, 210 (1933); 65, 348 (1935); 72, 290, 311 (1939). Review: Berthelot, Chim. Ind. (Paris) 50, 78-9 (1943); Frondel, Econ.
Bot. 22, 371 (1968). Infrared spectroscopy
of different varieties of powdered amber: C. W. Beck et al., Nature 201, 256 (1964).
Chemical constitution: J. B. Lambert, J. S. Frye, Science 217, 55 (1982).
Properties
Pale-yellow to reddish-brown resin. Transparent
or cloudy (due to enclosed air bubbles and free succinic acid). Brittle;
conchoidal fracture. d 1.05 to
1.10. Harder than most other resins. nD 1.539-1.545. Softens at 150°, mp 350-375° giving off a choking, aromatic odor. When rubbed
it is a good generator of static electricity.Derivative
Oil of Amber, Rectified.
Description and references
Obtained by the destructive distillation of
amber and purified by redistillation. Consists of a mixture of terpenes
with resinous, oxygen-containing substances.
Properties
Pale yellow to yellowish-brown, volatile oil;
penetrating odor; burning acrid taste. d 0.850-0.920. αD20 +22 to +26°. Insol
in water. Sol in about 10 vols alcohol; freely sol in chloroform,
ether, carbon disulfide, oils.Use
The best quality is machined into beads and other
personal ornaments. For teething strings. Also used for making mouthpieces
of tobacco pipes and cigarette holders. Small pieces are pressed
into “ambroid” and then used for the same purpose. Impure material
goes into the manufacture of “amber” varnishes.