282 Researches respecting the radical of Benzoic Acid. 



is correct may be ascertained by accurate analyses of other fluid oils 

 in which the formation of benzoic acid, has been observed by mere 

 oxidation in the air, or by action of nitric acid, particularly analyses 

 of the oils of fennel-seed, anise-seed and cinnamon. 



If an inference be allowed from the behavior of chloro and cya- 

 nobenzoyl, respecting the peculiar nature of the combination, which 

 by the admission of water to the bitter almonds, causes the formation 

 of prussic acid and hydrobenzoyl (crude oil of the bitter almonds), 

 then it appears to us possible, without wishing to anticipate the exper- 

 iment, that there is contained in the almonds a union of cyanogen with 

 another body which is different from the hydrobenzoyl merely in the 

 content of oxygen, so that by the admission of the constituents of 

 water, hydrobenzoyl on the one side, and prussic acid on the other 

 are formed ; it farther seems to us probable, if amygdalin is a de- 

 composition product of this combination with alcohol, that a similar 

 exchange takes place as in the decomposition of chlorobenzovl by al- 

 cohol, with this only difference that the cyanogen or its constituents 

 enters into the new combination. 



Benzoin in regard to its formation and physical properties posses- 

 ses great similarity to the solid crystalline substances which are form- 

 ed in other fluid oils ; accurate analyses will unfold whether these 

 (camphoroids) are the same in composition with the fluid oils from 

 which they proceed, and whether the cause of their different stales 

 or their other varying properties lies in the manner in which their 

 constituents are combined. 



Letter from Berzelius to Wohler and Liebig respecting Benzoyl 



and Benzoic acid. 



Accept my thanks for the very interesting communication of your 

 united and important researches respecting the bitter almond oil. 



At your request I have examined my former experiments in re- 

 gard to the composition of benzoic acid and find the result of your 

 analysis wholly confirmed. 



I have also made as you desired an analysis of benzoate of silver, 

 and from 100 parts of the salt previously dried at 100° obtained 

 by careful ignition, 46-83 gm. of metallic silver, which agrees as near- 

 ly as could be expected with the theoretical result calculated by you 

 (46-S6.) 



You have remarked that my analysis of benzoate of lead, perfect- 

 ly agrees with the same. A later analysis made with sulphuric acid 





