DECOMPOSITION OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS. 459 



C 6 H 6 + HN0 3 = C 6 H 5 N0 2 + H 2 O. 

 Benzene. Nitric acid. Nitro-benzene. Water. 



C 6 H ]0 5 + 3HN0 3 : C 6 H 7 N(V,0 5 + 3H 2 O. 

 Cellulose. Nitric acid. Cellulose trinitrate. Water. 



The additional quantity of oxygen thus introduced into the mole- 

 cules renders them highly combustible, or even explosive. 



Action of dehydrating- agents. Substances having a great 

 affinity for water, such as strong sulphuric acid, phosphoric oxide, 

 and others, act upon many organic substances by removing from them 

 the elements of hydrogen and oxygen, and combining with the water 

 formed, while, at the same time, frequently dark or even black com- 

 pounds are formed, which consist largely of carbon. The black 

 color imparted to sulphuric acid by organic matter depends on this 

 action. 



Action of alkalies. The hydroxides of potassium and sodium 

 act in various ways on organic substances. 



In some cases substitution products are decomposed : 



C 2 H 5 C1 -f KOH KC1 -f C 2 H 5 OH. 



Ethyl chloride. Potassium Potassium Ethyl alcohol, 



hydroxide. chloride. 



Salts are formed : 



C 2 H 4 2 -f NaOH -= NaC 2 H 3 O 2 + H 2 O. 

 Acetic Sodium Sodium Water, 



acid. hydroxide. acetate. 



Fats are decomposed with the formation of soap : 



C 3 H 5 (C 18 H 3 A) 3 + 3NaOH = C 3 H 5 (OH) 3 -f 3NaC 18 H 33 O 2 . 

 Oleate of glyceryl. Sodium hydroxide. Glycerin. Sodium oleate. 



Oxidation takes place, while hydrogen is liberated : 



C,H 6 O -f KOH = KC 2 H 3 O 2 -f 4H. 



Ethyl Potassium Potassium Hydrogen, 



alcohol. hydroxide. acetate. 



From compounds containing nitrogen, ammonia is evolved : 



NH 2 C 2 H 3 -f KOH KC 2 H 3 2 + NH 3 . 



Acetamide. Potassium Potassium Ammonia, 



hydroxide. acetate. 



Action of reducing- agents. Deoxidizing or reducing agents, 

 especially hydrogen in the nascent state, act upon organic substances 

 either by direct combination : 



C 2 H 4 O + 2H = C 2 H 6 0. 

 Acetic aldehyde. Ethyl alcohol. 



or by removing oxygen (and also chlorine or bromine) : 



