

cw«? 50»i<? of the Products of its decomposition. 



would have had the composition Cjg H^ N, and by tre^^mpnt- 

 with oxidizing means would probably give compounds oF"A 

 indigo series, perhaps isatine. We have hitherto, however, 

 not succeeded in preparing it. 



We have already stated, that by the treatment of sty role with 

 nitric acid, there passes over, towards the end of the distilla- 

 tion, an oil which possesses in the highest degree the odour of 

 nitrostyrole. This oil is nothing but a solution of nitrostyrole 

 in several other fluid bodies, probably undecomposed styrole 

 and some oil of bitter almonds. On exposing this mixture to 

 a very low temperature ( — 20° C), it solidifies nearly com- 

 pletely into a crystalline mass, which can be separated from 

 the adhering fluid oil by pressing in filtering paper : it is pure 

 nitrostyrole. 



Benzoic Acid. 



The crystals which separate on the cooling of the watery 

 fluid during the preparation of the resin for the formation of 

 nitrostyrole, consist, according to the length of the distillation 

 or the concentration of the nitric acid employed, either of 

 benzoic or nitrobenzoic acid. In general we obtained a mix- 

 ture of both. 



To be quite certain on this point, we treated, in the re- 

 peated distillations which we undertook for the preparation 

 of nitrostyrole, storax oil sometimes with quite dilute nitric 

 acid. 



By continuing the distillation for a considerable time, there 

 passed over with the watery vapour a substance which con- 

 densed in the neck of the retort and in the receiver into a cry- 

 stalline mass. This was dissolved in weak potash ley and 

 boiled till all odour of nitrostyrole had disappeared. Acids 

 produced in this alkaline solution a white crystalline precipi- 

 tate, which was separated by filtration, washed, and dissolved 

 in boiling water. From this solution large crystalline plates 

 separate, which are identical with those deposited from the 

 liquid above the resin (in the preparation of nitrostyrole), and 

 which in every respect resembled benzoic acid. To remove 

 every doubt, we formed benzole from it, and submitted the 

 acid itself to analysis. 



The following results were obtained by combustion with 

 oxide of copper: — 



0'3260grm. gave 0*8230 grm. of carbonic acid and 0*154v5 

 grm. of water. 



The amount per cent, calculated from these numbers cor- 

 responds exactly to the formula C14 Hg O4, as is shown by 

 the following statement: — 



