854 BENZOYL. 



Formobenzo'ilic acid, HO + BzH,C 2 HO 3 . This acid contains 

 hydruret of benzoyl in combination with formic acid. It is the 

 result of the action of dilute hydrochloric acid upon the crude 

 distilled water of bitter almonds which contains the essence and 

 hydrocyanic acid. The latter acid is decomposed in contact 

 with water and a strong acid, into ammonia and formic acid, 

 the last of which unites in the nascent state with the oil. 

 This acid is a white crystalline powder, very acid, fusible into 

 an oily liquid by heat with loss of water, soluble easily in water, 

 alcohol and ether ; capable of decomposing with aid of heat the 

 acetates, carbonates and benzoates. Its aqueous solution when 

 submitted to oxidating agencies, such as chlorine, nitric acid, 

 and peroxide of manganese with dilute sulphuric acid, gives 

 carbonic acid and hydruret of benzoyl. 



Formobenzoilic acid has the same saturating power as formic 

 acid, and belongs to that class of acids into the constitution 

 of which some foreign body enters without neutralising them. 

 In the formation of its salts, the basic water of the formula 

 above is replaced by a metallic oxide. 



Benzoate of hydruret of benzoyl ; a body which consists of 

 1 atom of hydrated ben zoic acid united with 2 atoms of hydruret 

 of benzoyl. It is prepared by saturating the crude essence of 

 bitter almonds by humid gaseous chlorine; after some time 

 the new compound is deposited in a crystalline mass, which is 

 washed with cold ether. It forms either a crystalline powder 

 of great whiteness, or slender short prisms of a square base, 

 transparent and brilliant. It is soluble in alcohol, very slightly 

 soluble in cold ether, and insoluble in water. It is decomposed 

 immediately by an alcoholic solution of hydrate of potash, which 

 deposits benzoate of potash after a time in regular crystals* 



HIPPURIC ACID. 



Formula: HO + C 18 H 8 NO 5 . 



This acid was discovered by Liebig, and obviously belongs to 

 the benzoyl series, although its exact place cannot at present be 

 assigned to it with certainty. It has been viewed as a compound of 

 benzamide with an organic acid namely C 4 HO 3 (aconitic, fumaric 

 or equisetic acid) ; or as a compound of hydruret of benzoyl, 



