214 Mons. R. Piria on the Comhinations of Salicyle, 



cohol. "When quite dry it undergoes no change by exposure 

 to the air, but when wet it absorbs oxygen, becomes covered 

 with numerous green spots, which ultimately turn black ; the 

 whole mass becoming eventually a black sooty powder, which 

 will be alluded to in the course of these remarks on account 

 of a peculiar acid which it contains. 



A solution of salicide of potassium is precipitated yellow 

 by salts of lead, silver, mercury, manganese, and barium. 

 Salicide of ammonium is procured by mixing liquid ammonia 

 with the hydruret of salicyle, in the same manner as the cor- 

 responding salt of potassium. It crystallizes in yellow needles, 

 and by exposure to the air is soon decomposed into its con- 

 stituents, ammonia being copiously evolved. 



Salicide of barium is obtained by precipitating a solution 

 of salicide of potassium by chloride of barium. It may be 

 obtained in minute needles, but is very slightly soluble in 

 water. It consists of 



Atoms. Theory. Exp. 



Carbon 14 = 84 40-93 41-15 



Hydrogen... 7 7 3*34 3*41 



Oxygen 6 48 22-96 22-57 



Barium 1 68 32-77 32-87 



Atomic weight... 207 100 100 



it hence contains two atoms of water, and when dried in Lie- 

 big's desiccating apparatus, it gives up this quantity, 1-237 

 parts losing 0*110 parts of its weight. 



Salicide of copper may be prepared by dissolving freshly 

 precipitated oxide of copper in hydruret of salicyle, and eva- 

 porating to dryness over a water bath ; it forms a light yellow 

 powder, which, when heated, partly sublimes in iridescent 

 scales. Submitted to analysis, it was found to consist of 



Atoms. Theory. Exp. 



Carbon 14 =84 55-50 55-75 



Hydrogen... 5 5 3-24 3-47 



Oxygen 4 32 20-74 20-70 



Copper 1 32 20*52 20-08 



Atomic weight... 153 100 100 



Salicic Acid. 

 This compound may be obtained by heating hydruret of 

 salicyle with an excess of potass. The mixture becomes deep 

 reddish-brown, and hydrogen is evolved. Dissolve the re- 

 sulting mass in water, and add hydrochloric acid in excess ; a 

 copious deposit of salicic acid in fine needles occurs. This 



