Remarks on Formic Acid. 145 
bears exposure to a red heat without suffering decomposition, 
changes into ammonia and formate of potassa, by simply boiling a 
saturated solution of it in water. 
It is known, moreover, to chemists, that oxalic acid, when’ inode 
denly heated to about 300°, becomes changed into formic acid mix- 
ed with the oxide and acid of carbon and water. More recently, 
J. Liebig has examined a remarkable acid, composed of the formic 
acid and the hyduret of Benzule, (oil of bitter almonds,) to which 
he has given the name of formo-benzoilic.* Indeed, it seems re- 
markable, considering all circumstances, that formic acid does not 
more frequently arise from the reaction of organic bodies upon each 
other, and the more especially as there is some reason to presume, 
with Liebig, that oxide of carbon, like some compounds of carbon 
and hydrogen, is capable of acting asa radical. Perhaps the rea- 
son is, that formic acid contains elements feebly united, and (as has 
been stated in relation to the metallic oxides) readily seizes upon 
additional proportions of oxygen, and thus changes into carbonic acid 
and water. 
The following, founded wholly upon a comparison of combining 
proportions, may be mentioned as some of its most direct relations : 
jis 1 atom of oxalic acid+1 seer of hydro 
re) 
formic acid 
may result ene 
atom of sugar of parber cid. 
3 a msof sugar —1 pe of ig cerbaret of hydrogen. 
m of tartaric acid +la of oxygen. 
formic seit, as Be I atom of malic (or citrie) agi atoms of “oxygen. 
Also, 1 om of fi +-3 atoms of water. 
Artificial preparation of wis acid. 
I shall now, however, enter upon what must be regarded as ibe 
principal object of this communication ; namely, a statement of the 
results of my own inquiry, by which I have arrived at the conclusion 
that Prof. Débereiner’s views are erroneous as to the mode of form- 
ing this acid, and that the principles involved in its production are 
analogous to, and perhaps equally deserving of notice as, those that 
relate to the hydric or sulphuric ether. 
One part of tartaric acid (or sugar)—one and a half of peroxide 
of manganese—one and a half of sulphuric acid, diluted with about 
two and a half parts of water, when well mixed and subjected to 
distillation, will furnish the formic acid according to Dobereiner’s 
process. In order to diminish the inconvenience arising from the 
* Ann. de Chim. Juin, 1836. 
Vou. XXXII.—No. 1. 
