426 



When the oil of sassafras is put into contact with bromine, 

 great heat is evolved, much hydrobromic acid is evolved, and 

 a solid product obtained, which, washed with alcohol until 

 the excess of bromine and some secondary products are re- 

 moved, is a brilliant white, crystalline powder. If this be 

 gently heated it becomes yellowish pink. It fuses at about 

 300°, and soon after decomposes, giving off hydrobromic acid, 

 and depositing charcoal. It is moderately soluble in ether, 

 and by the cooling, or the evaporation of its ethereal solution, 

 it can be obtained in brilliant oblique rhombs. The formula 

 of this body is C20 H7 O4 Br^. 



When oil of sassafras is treated with nitric acid, very vio- 

 lent action is produced, and a large quantity of oxalic acid is 

 formed ; but by diluting the acid, and avoiding much 'eleva- 

 tion of temperature, a resinoid substance is obtained, of a pale 

 yellow colour, soluble in alcohol and ether, slightly soluble 

 in boiling water, and depositing on cooling. This body is 

 quite destitute of acid characters, but it dissolves in alkalies, 

 and may be precipitated by solutions of earthy or metallic 

 salts, with the bases of which it forms definite compounds. 

 The formula of this substance, which I term nitro-sassafras, is 

 C16 Hg Oa N, and it is evidently formed by the action of 



C2oH,o04.+ N4 O20 



giving 



C4 Oe . + H4 O4 and N3 Og, 

 besides 



C,6 He Os N. 

 When oil of vitriol is put in contact with oil of sassafras, 

 an intense and beautiful crimson colour is produced. This is 

 so remarkable as to constitute a very decisive means of recog- 

 iiising this essential oil. On studying this reaction more 

 minutely, it is found that the oil of sassafras enters into a 

 direct compound with oil of vitriol, and there is produced an 

 intensely deep purple resinoid body, soluble in alcohol and 

 ether, a Uttle soluble in water, destitute of acid reaction, yet 

 dissolving in alkalies, and being precipitated by the alkaline 



