180 EXAMINATION OF A NAPHTHA FROM LIME-SOAP. 
Trial-analyses were now made of several of these products, from which it ap- 
peared that they were really hydro-carbons, though still all more or less impure. The 
analysis of the body boiling at 81°-82°-(uncorrected) may be cited as an example of 
the results obtained at this stage: 0.2685 grm. of substance gave 0.8849 grm. carbonic 
acid and 0.2203 grm. water; or carbon 89.87% and hydrogen 9.13%. 
These figures point at once towards the members of the benzole series, and in fact 
the body in question was benzole itself. Upon examination, it was found that even 
the impure substance analyzed had the characteristic odor of benzole, and that after 
agitation with a little concentrated sulphuric acid, the odor was identical with that of 
pure benzole, while, on being immersed in a mixture of ice and salt, the liquid crys- 
tallized readily, in the same manner as benzole. This result was particularly inter- 
esting to us, since we had not anticipated that benzole or its homologues would be 
found among our products, though a moment’s reflection suggested that the con- 
ditions under which the lime-soap was heated were such as might give rise to the 
production of some of these highly carbonized bodies. Moreover, in pointing out 
the probable presence of its homologues, the benzole here went far toward accounting 
for several of our unknown bodies. This presumption was subsequently realized, the 
presence of each of the four members of the benzole series having been proved: and 
it may here be remarked that as the final result of our investigation it appeared that 
of the other twelve bodies, four were of the olefiant series (C, H,), being probably 
identical with those recently obtained by A. Wurtz* among the products of the action 
of chloride of zinc upon amylic-alcohol; that four others were members of another 
C, H, series, isomeric with the above, and identical with those previously obtained by 
one of us, + from American petroleum, and that the remaining four belonged to that 
series of hydrides specially studied by Schorlemmer { and by Warren, § whose mem- 
bers boil at degrees the names of which end in “ eight” or “nine.” || 
In view of the impure condition of our products, as indicated by these preliminary 
analyses, and by the peculiar action upon sodium,** already alluded to, it was deemed 
* Bulletin de la Sociéte Chimique de Paris, 1863, p. 300. t Warren, Memoirs of the American Academy [N. S.], IX. 167. 
{ Journal of the Chemical Society of London, 1862, XV. 419. § Memoirs of the American Academy [N. 8.], IX. 
| Isolated members of this series had previously been encountered by Greville Williams, Philosophical Transactions, 1857, 
CXLVII. 461; and Journal of the Chemical Society of London, 1862, XV. 130. 
** When a bit of metallic sodium is thrown into the crude hydro-carbon oil it is at once acted upon, becoming bright and lustrous 
while bubbles of gas are slowly evolved from the liquid so long as any of the metal remains, A floceulent, viscid, alkaline sedi- 
ment at the same time separates out, which, on being collected and treated with water, behaves like a highly alkaline soap. 
The action of sodium upon the isolated heaps composed of members of the Cn Hn series was similar in kind to its action 
upon the erude oil, and quite unlike anything which we have noticed in studying bodies obtained from petroleum or any other 
source. In the case of some of the Cn Hn products in question, it was found to be necessary to boil them repeatedly with sodium 
