REPORT ON CHEMISTRY. 
503 
of mercury. With sulphuret of lead, and iodide and bromide 
of potassium, it gives, in the same way, a sulphuret and iodide 
and a bromide of benzule, while the chlorine unites with the 
metal. The iodide and bromide are crystallizable and volatile, 
and all three are decomposed by water and bases like the 
chloride. 
The radical itself has not been isolated, but these experi¬ 
ments leave no doubt of its existence. One of the most striking 
facts in regard to it is the presence of oxygen as a constituent 
element which remains unaffected in its combinations with 
chlorine and iodine. 
Benz amid.—The chloride of benzule, Bz + Cl, takes up two 
atoms of ammonia 2 (N + 3 H), forming a crystallized volatile 
substance, which is decomposed by water, giving muriate of 
ammonia (Cl + H) + (N + 3 H) and benza??iid=l$z -J-(N -f- 2 H). 
the latter of which remains undissolved in the form of a white 
powder. 
This last substance contains the same elements as benzoate 
of ammonia minus one atom of water, for 
Bz + (N + 2 H) + H = Bz + (N + 3H). 
Dumas’ oxamid consists of 2C + N + 2 H; or it contains the 
same compound of azote and hydrogen as the white salt (benz- 
amid) above obtained: and in both cases they are united to a 
compound radical. We know of similar compounds, not hi¬ 
therto understood, of potassium and sodium with the same two 
elements. If, then, we represent N + 2 H by amid, we shall 
have 
Po + N + 2 H = potassamid. 
So + N + 2 H = sodamid. 
2 C + (N + 2 H) = oxamid. 
Bz + (N + 2H) = benzamid. 
Met am o rphi c oil of bitter almonds, —MM. Wohler and Lie¬ 
big have also analysed the camphor which is sometimes depo¬ 
sited in oil of bitter almonds, and have found it to have pre¬ 
cisely the same composition,—to be, in fact, metamorphic oil of 
bitter almonds. 
Gallic acid. —Dobereiner* obtains pure gallic acid in a few 
minutes by the following process. A concentrated decoction 
of gall-nuts, mixed with a little acetic acid to decompose the 
gallate of lime, is shaken for one minute with a quantity of 
aether. The gallic acid is taken up by the aether, and by spon¬ 
taneous evaporation on a watch-glass is obtained in small co¬ 
lourless prisms. If longer digested, the liquid separates into 
* Schweigger’s N. Jahr. i. p. 380. 
