REPORT ON CHEMISTRY. 
505 
Chloroxalic acid. —By exposing concentrated acetic acid to 
the action of chlorine in the rays of the sun, Dumas* has found 
that broad plates of an acid body are gradually deposited on 
the sides and bottom of the vessel. By subsequent purifica¬ 
tion it is obtained in rhombic tables of 100° and 80°, which 
melt at about 112° F., and boil in vacuo at 390°, volatilizing with¬ 
out decomposition. It is very deliquescent, very soluble in water, 
and gives very soluble salts. The composition of the crystals 
is 2C + 2H-P2C1 + 3Q; and may be represented by (Cl -f H) 
+ (2 C + 3 O), or an atom of muriatic combined with one of 
oxalic acid. Dumas therefore calls it chloroxalic acid. It 
would be interesting to learn the saturating power of the acid, 
and the characters of its salts. 
Oxamid. —We may notice here another singular compound 
for the discovery of which we are also indebted to Dumas. 
When oxalate of ammonia is heated in a crucible, at a tempe¬ 
rature sufficient to decompose it, among other products is ob¬ 
tained a small quantity of a dirty-white sublimate, insoluble in 
cold, but dissolving in hot water. This substance is oxamid, 
and the interest attending it arises from its composition, and 
from the phenomena it exhibits when acted upon by acids and 
alkalies. According to Dumas its composition is 2C n- N + 2H 
+ 20 = SC4-(N + 2H), or two carbonic oxide -4- one amid. 
It contains, therefore, neither oxalic acid nor ammonia; but 
when it is heated with a solution of caustic alkali, or with con¬ 
centrated sulphuric acid, it unites with the elements of water, 
and forms again equal atoms of oxalic acid and ammonia. 
Elardic and Palmic acids. —Fat and drying oils are distin¬ 
guished by the remarkable property, first noticed by Pontet,— 
that when mixed with an acid nitrate of mercury, or with hy- 
ponitric acid in small quantity, they speedily become solidified. 
Boudet has lately investigated this subject, and found the solid 
thus obtained to possess peculiar properties. He has proposed 
for that obtained from olive oil, oil of almonds, cocoa nuts, &c. 
the name of Elardine , and for that obtained from palm oil, 
Palmine. Alkalies change these substances into elardic and 
palmic acids respectively, and glycerine. Muriatic acid sepa¬ 
rates the acids from the alkalies in the form of an oil which soli¬ 
difies on cooling. They possess decided acid properties, and 
may be distilled without decomposition. 
The following List contains the names of nearly all the vege¬ 
table acids hitherto described, with the names of their disco¬ 
verers, and their composition so far as it is known. 
* Journ. de Chim. Medicate , vi. p. 659. 
