428 K@NE ON THE NATURE OF 4QUA REGIA, 
oxy-acids of nitrogen, because nitric acid, as a powerful oxidizer, 
is not able to expel the nitrous acid from its compound without 
altering the radical of the base*. But when this change has 
taken place, the nitric acid then acts with far greater energy ; 
the new radical is always more stable than the former one (25.), 
and it is able to form a more stable base with the oxygen, and in 
this way the generated oxide can combine with a more powerful 
acid, even though this is one of the most powerful oxidizing 
agents. 
In this way are formed by a great metamorphosis two acids, 
by means of nitric acid, from indigo, in which the presence of 
nitric acid is rendered probable; and resulting from a similar 
change which naphthaline undergoes by the action of the same 
acid, there is produced a conjugated acid (C!* H? O* + NO) 
+ 2HO. 
It is for the same reason that in the direct action of nitric 
acid upon pyroxylic spirit, the oxide of methyle combines unal- 
tered with this acid, while the less stable base of alcohol reduces 
the nitric acid to a less powerful oxidizer, nitrous acid (21.), which 
is capable of combining with another unaltered portion of the 
oxide of ethyle. 
33. So far no difficulty occurs in the explanation of the phe- 
nomena to which the nitric and hyponitric acids give rise in 
general in their reaction upon organic bodies. The reason is 
that we have admitted the hypothesis of M. Berzelius as correct, 
according to which the organic combinations containing oxygen 
consist of these metalloids combined with radicals. But this 
hypothesis, far from being opposed to the facts with which or- 
ganic chemistry has become enriched within the few last years, 
is rather confirmed by the constitution and properties of the 
products from the reaction of several oxidizing agents upon a 
large number of carburetted hydrogens; bythe constitution of the 
zethereal compounds and their analoga; by the various oxides of 
acetyle, formyle, &c.; by the circumstances attending the forma- 
tion of the artificial valerianic acid; bythe analogy of constitution 
of margarylic and hypomargarylic acid; by that of proteine and 
* Like the compound ethers, the salts of this class cannot be subjected to 
Berthollet’s law, as the nitric acid, in order to expel the nitrous acid from its 
combination, must act with an energy which is accompanied by the partial or 
entire decomposition of the radical, The discovery of the cause of this anomaly 
would be without doubt one of the greatest that could be made in organic 
chemistry. 
