278 Researches respecting the radical of Benzoic Acid. 

 chloride of calcium, it is freed from water, alcohol and acid, with 



t 



which it may be adulterated. 



We could not long remain in doubt respecting the nature of this 

 new product; it must be benzoic ether. For if the decomposition of 

 chlorobenzoyl by alcohol be analogous to that by water, as is suggested 

 by the formation of hydrochloric acid, then through the decomposi- 

 tion of water in the alcohol, must benzoic acid on the one hand be 

 formed and ether on the other ; which two at the moment of their 

 origin unite to form benzoic ether. On account of its unexpected 

 appearance, we sought to assure ourselves by an analysis, particular- 

 ly as this analysis would give us great control over the composition of 

 benzoic acid. 



We did not employ the fluid for analysis, until after careful wash- 

 ing with water, the latter was entirely abstracted, by repeated diges- 

 tion with muriate of lime, and by several distillations in a dried appa- 

 ratus. It is to no purpose to distil it over chloride of calcium, be- 

 cause its boiling point is so high, that water passes over at the same 

 time. 0.622 gm. gave 1.632 carbonic acid and 0.375 water, which 



in 100 parts is equivalent to, 



Carbon, 

 Hydrogen, 

 Oxygen, 



72.529 



6.690 



20.781 



Or by volume, 



18 atoms Carbon, . . 137.5866 . . 72.37 

 20 " Hydrogen, . 12.4796 . . 6.56 



4 " Oxygen, . 40.0000 . # 21.07 



These proportions exactly point out a compound of, 



C H O 



1 atom dry benzoic acid, .- . =14-10 — 3 



with one atom of ether, . . = 4 — 10-1 



18-20-4 



To assure ourselves of the perfect identity of benzoic ether thus 

 formed, with that prepared after the common method, we produced 

 the latter in abundance by the distillation of benzoic acid with a mix- 

 ture of alcohol and hydrochloric acid. By comparing the two pro- 

 perties of the two bodies obtained by such different methods, not 

 the slightest difference was observable. Odor, taste, sp. gr. and be- 

 havior to acid and alkali, were in both precisely the same. 



