24 W. Gibbs on the Constitution of Organic Compounds. 
counted for. The following equation appears to ‘contain a sim- q 
ple solution of the question, since we 
C2 
N {Bot 0+2HO=N a 0-+4+CuH0:, 
H H A 
the glycosin-ammonium of course uniting at the moment of its | 
formation with an equivalent of water. By this view of the 
constitution of hippuric and other similar acids, we explain at 
once its formation, its decomposition by boiling with acids, and 
its unibasic character, since its molecule contains only one equiv- 
alent of hydrogen replaceable by a metal. But the products of | 
the decomposition of the acid by other agents also confirm the 
view here taken. eo 
By boiling with peroxyd of lead, hippuric acid yields benza-— 
mid and carbonic acid, while with peroxyd of manganese and 
sulphuric acid, benzoic acid, carbonic acid, and sulphate of am-— 
monia are formed. These reactions are expressed by the equa _ 
tions j 
nie 0+60=N 1H +2C201-+HO, 
ates 1 E ask ig 
C2HO2 
and ss So 0-+HO+60-+480s. HO=NHi0.809-4+-CuHsO24+4C0% 
i 
In both these cases the easily oxydized radicals, formyl and 
formoxyl, are destroyed, yielding carbonic acid and water, while 
in both the radical CisHsOz2 is found unchanged among the 
C2HO2 C2HO2 . 
Glycolic acid - oe O04,  Benzoglycolie acid ae Se Os. 
H H 
BY boiling an aqueous solution of benzoglycolic acid, 
solved into glycolic and benzoic acids, the reaction being 
Pt C2HO2 
i 3 
OusHis02 | OMFSHOS { CAH | 9,4 CuHsOs} oy 
H ~ 
Now this decomposition is precisely analogous to the resolutiol 
of hippuric acid into glycosin and benzoic acid, explained b, 
the equation 
So NO+2HO= {3 No+ CuHis0#} oy 
H 
‘ 
