Researches respecting the radical of Benzoic Acid. 267 
Which for 100 parts gives its composition as 
I I. 
Carbon, : 79.438 : =, 2603 
Hydrogen, : 5.756 : : 5.734 
Oxygen, . 14.808 i il4.663 
These proportions calculated by volume give 
14 atoms of carbon, . 1070.118 ; 79.56 
ea hydrogen, . 74.877 * 5.56 
Dai ce oxygen, . 200.000 : 14.88 
1344.995 100.00. 
According to the composition of this body, the formation of ben- 
zoic acid by the mere reception of oxygen is wholly inexplicable, be- 
cause in this change no other products could be detected. Accord- 
ing to the analysis of benzoic acid by Berzelius, it contains 15 atoms 
of carbon, 12 of hydrogen and 3 of oxygen. This circumstance in- 
duced us to repeat the analysis of the crystallized acid, and of the 
‘same united to a base. 
Analysis of Benzoic Acid.—We employed for this analysis not 
only the common benzoic acid obtained from resin, but also a portion 
prepared expressly for this purpose from the oil. In both cases, we 
assured ourselves of their purity. The acid was fused, weighed and 
introduced by pieces into the ignition tube ; this was then warmed to 
the fusion of the acid, and equally parted at half the length of the 
tube upon the sides. It was then filled with warm oxide of copper, 
again brought before the air-pump, and submitted to ignition, which 
with this very volatile substance could be but slowly conducted. 
i Carbon. Water. 
J. 0.523 gramme of acid yielded 1.308 ; 0.238 
DESY OLS2 27“ ¥ ee 1.302 
I. 0.305  * f mae 0.760 Solin OANe Oe 
According to these results then, the analyses gave for 100 parts, 
1 I. IIL. 
Carbon, ‘ 69.155 : 68.970 : 68.902 
Hydrogen, . 5.050 . Water was lost. 5.000 
Oxygen, é 25.795 : : - : 26.098 
These numbers give the atomic composition of the same, as 
14 atoms carbon, ¢ 107.0118 a 69.25 
12 “ hydrogen, . 7.4877 : 4.86 
4 “ oxygen, ‘ 40.0000 : 25.89 
154.4995 100.00 
Vou. XXVI.—No. 2. 35 
