460 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 



be obtained by dissolving the phosphate in nitric acid. The cry- 

 stals thus obtained are octahedrons of the nitrate, modified in appear- 

 ance by an excessive elongation of four opposite faces, which [there- 

 fore] might be mistaken for prismatic crystals. — L'Institut, January 

 1838, No. 223. 



ACTION OF IRON AT A HIGH TEMPERATURE ON BENZOIC ACID: 

 PRODUCTION OF BENZIN. 



M. Felix D'Arcet passed the vapour of benzoic acid over red hot 

 iron : by this he obtained a yellowish fluid oil which had an empy- 

 reumatic odour mixed with that of bitter almonds. 



This oil was rectified on a salt water bath, and left a pitchy resi- 

 due ; the distilled product was very fluid and colourless ; it had a 

 peculiar odour, boiled at 185°Fahr., and congealed at 21^*. By de- 

 composition with oxide of copper it was found to consist of 



Hydrogen 7-935 



Carbon 92*065 



100- 

 This liquid is therefore benzin, composed of 6 equivalents of hy- 

 drogen and 12 equivalents of carbon ; its production is attended with 

 the formation of carbonic acid, and supposing hydrated benzoic acid 

 to have been used, the action must have been thus : 



Hydrogen. Carbon. Oxygen. 



Benzoic acid 6 14 • 4 



Carbonic acid separated 2+4 



Benzin obtained .... 6 + 12 

 When the temperature is too high, then oxide of carbon is ob- 

 tained ; but when it is merely low red, then only carbonic acid is 

 produced. 



Benzin may also be obtained, according to M. D'Arcet, by distil- 

 ling a mixture of benzoic acid and arsenious acid. — Ann, de Chim. et 

 de Phys., Ixvi. p. 99. 



ACTION OF IRON AT A HIGH TEMPERATURE ON CAMPHOR. 



M. F. D'Arcet also passed the vapour of camphor over iron heated 

 to redness ; he obtained in the receiver a very fluid, yellowish, olea- 

 ginous liquor. When subjected to the heat of a salt-water bath 

 no portion of it came over ; but when the temperature was raised 

 to about 293°, a slightly yellow coloured liquid distilled ; it was 

 lighter than water, had a peculiar aromatic odour, not at all resem- 

 bling that of camphor, if the operation was slowly conducted. 



Analysed by means of oxide of copper, it gave 



Hydrogen 7*65 



Carbon 92*35 



100- 

 This product, therefore, like the preceding, is equivalent to a com- 

 pound of 12 hydrogen + 6 carbon, and therefore resembles benzin 



