510 M. Linnemann on Bcnzophenone. 



washed with alcohol, then with ether. These united wash- 

 ings are mixed with water until turbidity sets in ; the liquid is 

 then agitated with ether; on evaporating the ether, the substance 

 remains free from soda. This is again dissolved in aqueous 

 alcohol, and treated with sodium-amalgam until free hydrogen 

 is disengaged. The substance is finally exhausted with ether, 

 shaken with water to remove alcohol, and finally evaporated 

 spontaneously. A yellowish liquid is left which solidifies on 

 lengthened standing, or immediately if touched. This is finally 

 crystallized from benzole, from which it is deposited in white 

 silky needles. The composition of the substance, which Linne- 

 mann provisionally calls benzhydrole, is € 13 H I4 0; it is formed 

 from benzophenone, € 13 H 10 9, by the assimilation of four atoms 

 of hydrogen. 



It is insoluble in cold water, but completely soluble in alcohol, 

 ether, and benzole. It melts at 67°'o, and it distils at 296° to 

 297° without decomposition. As far as it has yet been investi- 

 gated, it appears to be a monatomic alcohol. By being heated 

 with benzoic acid, it forms a compound which can be obtained 

 crystallized in small colourless transparent cubes which melt at 

 80°, and are decomposed by potash into benzoic acid and benz- 

 hydrole. The analysis of this compound led to the formula 



G 13 H 13 



£-20 H l8 O 2 = - « IQ 



&J 



Lautemann has examined* the action of iodide of phosphorus 

 on picric acid. When iodide of phosphorus is added to a strong 

 aqueous solution of picric acid, a violent reaction is set up, 

 which raises the liquid to ebullition ; when almost all iodide of 

 phosphorus is decomposed and phosphuretted hydrogen begins 

 to be disengaged, carbonic acid is passed through the liquid, 

 which drives off water and excess of hydriodic acid. The liquid, 

 when adequately concentrated in this manner, solidifies, on 

 cooling, to a mass of long needles. These constitute the ter- 

 iodide of a new triatomic ammonium which the author names 



(c l2 H 3 )"n 



picrammonium, C 12 H 12 N 3 P, or ^ In 3 I 3 . This body 



H 3 J 

 cannot be crystallized from water ; for though excessively soluble 

 in that medium, on evaporating the solution it is decomposed. 

 It cannot resist the feeblest oxidizing action, and even by being 

 kept it is decomposed. Hence all attempts to isolate either the 

 hydrated oxide of picrammonium or its triamine have failed. 



* Liebig's Annalen, January 1863. 



