On the mutual action of sulphuric acid and naphthaline, and on a new acid produced / [Michael Faraday].

  • Michael Faraday
Date:
1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the mutual action of sulphuric acid and naphthaline, and on a new acid produced / [Michael Faraday]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    takes place, the results above, minus the baryta, will repre- sent its composition: from which it would appear, that one proportional of the acid consists of two proportionals of sul- phuric acid, twenty of carbon, and eight of hydrogen ; these constituents forming an acid equivalent in saturating power to one proportional of other acids. Hence it would seem, that half the sulphuric acid present, at least when in combi- nation, is neutralized by the hydro-carbon ; or, to speak in more general terms, that the hydro-carbon has diminished the saturating power of the sulphuric acid to one half. This very curious and interesting fact in chemical affinity was however made known to me by Mr. Hennell of Apothecaries' Hall, as occurring in some other compounds of sulphuric acid and hydro-carbon, before I had completed the analysis of the present acid and salts ; and a similar circumstance is known with regard to muriatic acid, in the curious com- pound discovered by M. Kind, which it forms with oil of turpentine. Mr. Hennell is I believe on the point of offering an account of his experiments to the Royal Society, and as regards date they precede mine. It may be observed, that the existence of sulphuric acid in the new compounds, is assumed, rather than proved ; and that the non-appearance of sulphurous acid, when sulphuric acid and naphthaline act on each other, is not conclusive as to the non-reaction of the bodies. It is possible that part of the hydrogen of the naphthaline may take oxygen from one of the proportions of the sulphuric acid, leaving the hypo- sulphuric acid of Welter and Gay Lussac, which with the hydro-carbon may constitute the new acid. I have not time at present to pursue these refinements of the subject, or to.
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