Researches respecting the radical of Benzoic AcvL 267 



Which for 100 parts gives its composition as 



I. II. 



Carbon, . 79.438 . . 79.603 



Hydrogen, . 5.756 . , 5.734 



Oxygen, . 14.808 . . 14.663 

 These proportions calculated by volume give 



14 atoms of carbon, . 1070.118 . 79.56 



12 « hydrogen,. 74.877 .. 5.56 



2 " oxygen, . 200.000 .' 14.88 



1344.995 100.00. 



According to the composition of this body, the formation of ben- 

 zoic acid by the mere reception of oxygen is wholly inexplicable, be- 

 cause in this change no other products could be detected. Accord- 

 ing to the analysis of benzoic acid by Berzelius, it contains 15 atoms 

 of carbon, 12 of hydrogen and 3 of oxygen. This circumstance in- 

 duced us to repeat the analysis of the crystallized acid, and of the 

 same united to a base. 



Analysis of Benzoic Acid. — We employed for this analysis not 

 only the common benzoic acid obtained from resin, but also a portion 

 prepared expressly for this purpose from the oil. In both cases, we 

 assured ourselves of their purity. The acid was fused, weighed and 

 introduced by pieces into the ignition tube ; this was then warmed to 

 the fusion of the acid, and equally parted at half the length of the 

 tube upon the sides. It was then filled with warm oxide of copper, 

 again brought before the air-pump, and submitted to ignition, which 

 with this very volatile substance could be but slowly conducted. 



Carbon. Water. 



I. 0.523 gramme of acid yielded 1.308 . 0.238 

 II. 0.522 " " " 1.302 . 



III. 0.305 " " " 0.760 . 0.136. 



According to these results then, the analyses gave for 100 parts 



' I. II. III. 



Carbon, . 69.155 . 68.970 . 6S.902 



Hydrogen, . 5.050 . Water was lost. 5.000 



Oxygen, . 25.795 .... 26.098 



These numbers give the atomic composition of the same, as 

 14 atoms carbon, . 107.01 18 • 69.25 



12 " hydrogen, . 7.4877 . 4.86 



4 " oxygen, . 40.0000 . 25.89 



154.4995 100.00 



Vol. XXVI.— No. 2. 35 



7 



