On the Oxidation of Cumol by Nitric Acid. 63 



length of the radius of sensible activity of molecular at- 

 traction. 



Lastly, tiie author deduces from a property of the liquid 

 cylinder the complete theory of the constitution of liquid veins 

 discharged through circular orifices, — a constitution so com- 

 pletely investigated experimentally by Savart, the cause of 

 which, however, has remained without any satisfiictory expla- 

 nation. Although such a vein be formed of a liquid freely 

 submitted to the action of gravity, M. Plateau shows that we 

 may apply to it, somewhat modified, the considerations rela- 

 tive to a liquid upon which this force does not act. 



The author announces, in conclusion, that in the following 

 series he shall direct his attention to other figures of equili- 

 brium of revolution than the sphere and the cylinder, and to 

 figures not included in that class for which the equation may 

 be interpreted in a strict manner. 



X. On some of the Products of Oxidation of Cumol by Nitric 



Acid. By Mr. F. A. Abel.* 

 Tj^ROM the investigations on the action of nitric acid upon 

 organic bodies, one result, in reference to the manner in 

 which this acid acts, has been undoubtedly established. We 

 know that in most cases the carbon of the organic substance 

 remains untouched ; that according to the degree of concen- 

 tration of the acid a smaller or larger number of equivalents 

 of hydrogen are expelled, and that the remaining part of the 

 organic body combines with the remainder of the nitric acid. 

 Thus is produced that innumerable class of neutral com- 

 pounds considered by some chemists to be combinations of 

 nitrous acid with organic oxides, and by others to be pro- 

 ducts of the substitution of hyponitric acid for hydrogen. It 

 is indifferent w'hich of these views is adopted, the fact having 

 been established by hundreds of experiments, and we are en- 

 abled by analogy to predict with tolerable certainty the result 

 of any new experiment. 



The case is quite different when the oxidation is not con- 

 fined to the hydrogen, but is extended to the carbon. The 

 numerous experiments made on this subject do not as yet 

 afford any general conclusion ; we are far from being able to 

 form an opinion, previous to experiment, of the nature of the 

 product formed. This will be obvious if we examine the ac- 

 tion of nitric acid on a class of bodies which arc very nearly 

 related to each other, both by the manner in which they are 

 formed and in their general chemical behaviour. Benzol, to- 



• Coniniunicatcd by the Chemical Society; having been read June 21, 

 1847. 



