OF AROMATIC COMPOUNDS. 57 



on the electrolytic decomposition of sodium benzoate 

 was made by Lob. 1 He employed a current having a 

 potential of 6-7 volts and a current density of 15-20 

 amp., and obtained a small quantity of a substance 

 containing sodium, the empirical formula for which 

 was 



C,H.O.Na, 



but the chemical nature of which has not yet been 

 determined. There is formed besides this compound 

 a small amount of benzaldehyde, as well as acetylene 

 and carbon monoxide. Under no circumstances do 

 diphenyl or other hydrocarbons occur, nor do fatty 

 acids appear, which is otherwise generally the case in 

 an oxidation of this character. 



Thio-benzoic Acid. On electrolyzing this acid Bunge' 

 obtained the bisulphide of benzoyl. 



Sulpho-benzoic Acid. This acid is not changed by 

 the current according to the statements of the same 

 investigator. 



Phthalic Acid. Bourgoin * states that the electrolysis 

 of this acid and of its neutral or alkaline salts resulted 

 in the formation of the unchanged acid at the positive 

 pole. The appearance of small quantities of carbon 

 dioxide and carbon monoxide, however, was an evi- 



1 Zeitschr. f. Elektroch., 2, 663, ibid., 3, 3. 



J Chem. Ber., 3, 296. 



8 Jahresb. f. Chem,, 1871, p. 631. 



