Products of the Action of Nitric Acid On Naphthalin. 43 



into mellitic acid and ammonia, 1 atom of acid and 3 atoms 

 of water form 3 atoms of mellitic acid and 1 atom of ammonia. 



3 atoms We = C' 2 O 9 



1 atom Am = H 6 N* 



C 12 H 6 N 2 O 9 = C 12 N 2 O + 3 H 2 O. 

 By the conversion of pa ram id into mellitate of ammonia, 

 only two atoms of mellitic acid are formed. Moreover, 3 atoms 

 of paramid = 2 atoms euchronic acid + 1 atom ammonia. 

 Paramid is bieuchronate of ammonia minus 2 atoms of water. 

 It is probable that paramid and euchronic acid form in high 

 temperatures other interesting products. A deep green sub- 

 limate and yellow needles are always formed, &c. &c. &c. — 

 (Annalen der Pharmacie, xxxvii. 63.) 



Products of the Action of Nitric Acid on Naphthalin. By C. de 

 Marignac, of Geneva. 



Laurent has shown that by the action of nitric acid on 

 naphthalin two products are obtained; when the action takes 

 place in the cold a substance is formed having the composition 

 C° H H N 2 O. Nitronaphthalase (Berzelius's nitrite of the 

 oxide of Ikodekatesseryl), by the aid of heat, O H 12 N 4 O = 

 2 (C 10 H G . N 2 O). Nitronaphthalese (nitrite of the oxide of 

 Dekahexyl) is produced. The action of nitric acid does not, 

 however, cease here; if it be continued two other substances 

 are formed. When nitronaphthalese is once formed, the acid 

 acts but very slightly, and no more red vapours are evolved 

 until the greater part of the nitric acid has passed over, when 

 the temperature rises and red vapours are formed. In order 

 to obtain the products thus formed, De Marignac added the 

 nitric acid to the naphthalin in the retort in small portions, 

 and waited each time until all action had ceased ; the opera- 

 tion was continued several days, and the residue in the retort 

 every evening washed with water, in order to extract soluble 

 matters. Three products were thus obtained: — 1st, An 

 acid, nitronaphthalic acid, soluble in water. 2ndly, An inso- 

 luble residue, nitronaphthalise. 3rdly, A substance in fine 

 flexible needles, which sublimed in the neck of the retort and 

 passed over dissolved in the nitric acid ; this substance proved 

 to be nitronaphthalese. 



. Nitronaphthalise. — The residue in the retort must be washed 

 with boiling water and then treated with cold aether, which 

 dissolves a little of a yellow resinous substance. The nitro- 

 naphthalise thus obtained has a tinge of yellow, is almost in- 

 soluble in aether, even when boiling, but little soluble in boil- 

 ing alcohol, out of which it falls as a crystalline powder, in- 



