146 



Dr. Hofmann on a New Class of Bodies 



[Recess^ 



phemjly without intending, however, by selecting this name, to express any 

 particular view as to its constitution. The formation of cyanide of phenyl 

 is represented by the following equation : — 



CeHyN + CHCI3 = C,H,N -f 3HCL 



Aniline. Chloroform, Cyanide of 

 phenyl. 



Cyanide of phenyl cannot be volatilized without undergoing decompo- 

 sition. During distillation the thermometer marks for sometime the con- 

 stant temperature of 167°, which may be taken as the boiling-point of 

 cyanide of phenyl. Then the temperature rises rapidly to from 220° to 

 230°. The brown liquid which now distils is destitute of odour, and soli- 

 difies on cooling to a crystalline mass, easily purified by solution in alcohol, 

 but not yet more minutely examined. Cyanide of phenyl is remarkable for 

 the facility with which it combines with other cyanides. The compound 

 with cyanide of silver is particularly beautiful. The behaviour of cyanide 

 of phenyl with acids is more especially characteristic. Scarcely changed 

 by the action of alkalies, it cannot be left in contact even with moderately 

 dilute acids without undergoing alteration. When submitted to the action 

 of concentrated acids, the liquid bursts into ebullition, and the solution, 

 after cooling, contains only formic acid and aniline. 



CyH.N + 2H3O = CK,0, + C3H7N 



Cyanide of Pormic Aniline, 



phenyl. acid. 



Benzonitrile, isomeric with cyanide of phenyl, is known to be slowly 

 attacked by acids, but to be rapidly transformed by alkalies into benzoic 

 acid and ammonia. 



C7H5N + 2H2O = C7II3O, + H3N. 

 Benzonitrile. Benzoic acid. 



The transformation of benzonitrile into benzoate of ammonium, as, indeed, 

 the transformation of the nitriles into the ammonium-salts of the respective 

 acids generally, is not accomplished in one single bound. By fixing only 

 one molecule of v/ater, benzonitrile is first converted into benzamide, 

 C7H5N -I- H,0 = C7H7NO 



Benzonitrile. Benzamide, 



Nor is the corresponding term of the isomeric series wanting. This sub- 

 stance has long been known as phenyl-formamide or formanilide, 

 C,H,N 11,0 = C.H^NO 



Cyanide of Phenyl- 

 phenyl, formamide. 



But, in addition to phenyl-formamide, there figures in this series a second 

 intermediate compound, the analogue of which among the derivatives of 



