MISCELLANY. 
177 
When the temperature is too high, oxide of carbon is obtained ; but 
when it is merely low red, then only carbonic acid is produced. 
.Benzin may also be obtained according to M. D'Arcet, by distilling 
a mixture of benzoic acid and arsenious acid. 
M. F. D'Arcet, also passed the vapor of camphor over iron heated to 
redness : he obtained in the receiver a very fluid, yellowish, oleaginous 
liquor. When subjected to the heat of a salt water bath, no portion of 
it came over ; but when the temperature was raised to about 293°, a 
slightly yellow colored liquid distilled ; it was lighter than water, had a 
peculiar aromatic odor, not at all resembling that of camphor, if the ope- 
ration was slowly conducted. 
Analysed by means of oxide of copper, it gave 
Hydrogen, 7.65 
Carbon, 92.35 
100. 
This product therefore, like the preceding, is equivalent to a compound 
of twelve hydrogen -J- six carbon, and therefore resembles benzin in com- 
position, but its properties are very different, for it boils at 284° F., in- 
stead of 185°. When the operation is conducted at a high temperature, 
then, beside the above mentioned product, naphthalin is also obtained. 
Ann. de Chim. lxvi. , and Land, and Ed. Phil. Mag,, May, 1838. 
Experiments on Camphor. — MM. Dumas and Peligot have made the 
following statements as the results of their experiments on common cam- 
phor : Neutral and oxygenated organic bodies, when their vapor con- 
tains half a volume of oxygen, approximate alcohol in general in the 
nature of their reactions. This is at any rate what happens with the 
spirit of wood, oil of potatoes, ethal and pyroacetic spirit. This gene- 
ralization struck us long since, and we have subjected common camphor, 
which is so constituted, to the action of some bodies which would allow 
of procuring from them decisive products, admitting that camphor would 
act like alcohol. We shall limit ourselves to stating here, that common 
camphor, treated with anhydrous phosphoric acid, furnishes a liquid vola- 
tile oily carburetted hydrogen, composed of C 40 H 28 ; this then comes 
from camphor, as if the body being formed of C 40 H 28 ,H 4 O 2 , should 
lose its water under the influence of the phosphoric acid. On acting 
upon camphor by sulphuric acid, a light volatile oil is also obtained. It 
appeared to us to be formed of the carburetted hydrogen preceding, and 
camphor, in variable proportions. By rectification with anhydrous phos- 
phoric acid, it resolves always into the carburetted hydrogen, C 40 H 28 , 
already mentioned, — ISInstitut. and Lond. and Ed. Phil. Mag. 
