858 BENZOLE. 



When bromobenzoic acid is precipitated from its salts by a 

 strong acid, the latter assumes the two atoms of water of the 

 bromobenzoic acid, which is thrown down anhydrous. The 

 bromobenzoates are in general crystallizable salts, that of the 

 peroxide of iron is insoluble, and has the properties and appear- 

 ance of the benzoate of iron. 



BENZOLE. 



Syn. Benzin, benzene, phene. Formula C 12 H 6 . 



This compound, which is named benzole by Liebig, the 

 termination ole being assigned to hydrocarbons, was originally 

 obtained by Mr. Faraday from the condensed liquid of com- 

 pressed oil gas and described under the name of bicarburet of 

 hydrogen ; more lately Mitscherlich found that it was the 

 principal product formed on distilling benzoic acid with hydrate 

 of lime, and named it benzin. By the abstraction of the 

 elements of 2 atoms of carbonic acid from 1 atom of crystallized 

 benzoic acid : 



Ci 4 H 6 O 4 C 2 O 4 C 12 H 6 . 



Benzole is prepared by distilling I part of crystallized benzoic 

 acid with 3 parts of hydrate of lime ; rectifying the oily product 

 by a second distillation with water, or better from quicklime. 

 It is a limpid colourless liquid, of a peculiar ethereal odour 

 which is agreeable; its density is 0.85; it boils at 186.8 

 (86 centig.) ; the density of its vapour is 2378, its combining 

 measure 4 volumes ; at 32 it becomes a crystalline mass, which 

 becomes liquid at 44.6 (7 centig.) Benzole, is insoluble in 

 water, soluble in alcohol and ether. It is not decomposed by 

 any hydrated acid. 



Sidphobenzide, C 12 H 5 SO 2 (Mitscherlich). Benzole like 

 naphtaline affords several products when decomposed by 

 acids. When exposed to the vapour of anhydrous sulphuric 

 acid it forms a viscid liquid, which dissolves entirely in a small 

 quantity of water ; on adding a larger quantity of water, sul- 

 phobenzide falls as a precipitate, which, dissolved in ether, gives 

 sulphobenzide crystallized, by evaporation. Sulphobenzide is 

 a colourless substance, perfectly neutral ; it fuses at 212, boils 



