Dr. J. Stenhouse on Chloropicrine. 51 



these analyses was prepared at several different times. When 

 these experiments on chloropicrine were pretty far advanced, I 

 was struck with the resemblance which it presented in its ele- 

 mentary composition and properties to the nitro-chlorinated 

 oil, obtained by Marignacby acting on hydrochlorate of chlo- 

 ronaphthalese with boiling nitric acid. The formula of Ma- 

 rignac's oil is C, CI, N, 04, and its per cent, composition — 



1096-00 



It is obvious, therefore, that though the elements are the 

 same, the per cent, composition is widely different. I pre- 

 pared a small quantity of Marignac's oil by sending a stream 

 of chlorine gas for three days over melted naphthaline,and then 

 treating the chloro-naphthalese thus formed by nitric acid. The 

 oil was very slowly generated, the chloronaphthalese requiring 

 to be boiled with nitric acid for more than twelve hours. The 

 quantity of the oil I obtained was very small. Its smell was 

 quite different from that of chloropicrine, and not nearly so 

 pungent. I also prepared a quantity of nitronaphthalese by 

 treating naphthaline with hot nitric acid. When this nitro- 

 naphthalese was boiled with hypochlorite of lime, it yielded 

 little more than a trace of chloropicrine, and with aqua regia 

 no oily body whatever. 



The most remarkable circumstance in regard to chloro- 

 picrine, is the very large number of organic bodies from which 

 it may be procured. 



1. All the substances which yield nitropicric acid. These 

 are indigo and its derivatives, salicine and its derivatives, cou- 

 marine, hydrate of phenyle, creosote, Botany Bay yellow resin, 

 liquid storax, gum-benzoin, balsam of Peru, &c. 



2. All the substances yielding the styphnic acid of Will 

 and Boettger, the oxypicric acid of Erdmann. These are gum 

 assafcetida, galbanum, ammoniacum, sagapenum, purree or 

 Indian yellow, the watery extracts of Brazil wood, red sanders 

 wood, logwood, fustic, &c. 



3. M. Schunck's chrysammic acid, and consequently aloes. 

 I have also procured chloropicrine by boiling Dammara 



resin with nitric acid and then treating it with hypochlorite 

 of lime ; and I have also obtained it by digesting in nitric acid 

 the resinous compound which chlorine forms with usnic acid. 

 Glasgow, June 15, 1848. 



