543 



gravity at 60° Fahr. is M68 ; it boils at 323° Fahr., and distils at 

 that temperature without alteration. It dissolves to a large extent 

 in cold water and also in alcohol. Its solution in concentrated sul- 

 phuric acid has a magnificent purple colour, and is decomposed by 

 water. Nitric acid, with the aid of heat, attacks the oil with pro- 

 digious violence, evolving copious red fumes, and generating oxalic 

 acid, which appears to be the only product. It dissolves in a solu- 

 tion of caustic potash, forming a deep brown liquid, from which 

 acids precipitate a resinous matter. With a slight heat, it explodes 

 when acted upon by metallic potassium. 



When placed in contact with 5 or 6 times its bulk of Liquor am- 

 monice, it is gradually converted into a solid, yellowish- white, and 

 somewhat crystalline mass, which is very bulky, perfectly soluble in 

 cold water, and eii -ily obtained in a state of dryness under a vacuum. 

 The formula expressing the chemical constitution of this substance, 

 or of furfuroamide, as the author calls it, is C'^ N O^, and it is 

 classed by him with the amides. The oil itself appears to be identical 

 with the substance described by Dr. Stenhouse under the name of 

 artificial oil of ants. Another substance, isomeric with the amides, 

 and of which the formula is C H^'^ N'^ O^, was obtained by the 

 author, and termed by him furfurine, and found to have the proper- 

 ties of a vegeto-alkali, and to form saline compounds with various 

 acids. 



February 6, 184-5. 



SIR JOHN WILLIAM LUBBOCK, Bart., V.P. and Treas. in 



the Chair. 



" On a new Bleaching Principle produced by the slow Combustion 

 of iEther in Atmospheric Air, and by the rapid Combustion of 

 Bodies in a Jet of Hydrogen Gas." By C. F. Schoenbein, Professor 

 of Chemistry in the University of Basle, &c. Communicated in a 

 letter to Michael Faraday, Esq., F.R.S., &c. 



The author, having observed that a peculiar principle, in many 

 respects similar to chlorine, was developed during the slow combus- 

 tion of phosphorus in the atmosphere, was led to inquire into the 

 product of the slow combustion of the vapour of tether mixed with 

 atmospheric air. He finds, that besides well-known compounds, such 

 as aldehydic, formic and acetic acids, there is evolved a principle 

 hitherto unnoticed, which possesses oxidizing and bleaching proper- 

 ties in an eminent degree. It decomposes indigo, iodide of potas- 

 sium, and hydroiodic acid, and also, though more slowly, bromide 

 of potassium. When in contact with water, it converts iodine into 

 iodic acid, and sulphurous into sulphuric acid, changes the yellow 

 ferro-cyanide of potassium into the red, and the white cyanide of iron 

 into the blue ; it transforms the salts of protoxide of iron into those 

 of the peroxide ; and it discharges the colours produced by sulphuret 

 of lead. The author points out the similarity between the action of 

 this substance, in these instances, and that of chlorine and of ozone. 



Analogous results were obtained from the combustion of a jet of 



