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

  • Faraday, Michael, 1791-1867
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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    Mr. Brande, several years since,* stated that naphthaline dissolved in heated sulphuric acid “ in considerable abund- ance, forming a deep violet coloured solution, which bears diluting with water without decomposition. The alkalies produce in this solution a white flaky precipitate, and if diluted the mixture becomes curiously opalescent, in conse- quence of the separation of numerous small flakes.” The precipitate by alkali was probably one of the salts to be hereafter described. Dr. Kidd observes,-f that “ it blackens sulphuric acid when boiled with it; the addition of water to the mixture having no other effect than to dilute the colour, neither does any precipitation take place upon saturating the acid with am- monia.” Mr. Chamberlain states,^ that sulphuric acid probably decomposes naphthaline, for that it holds but a very small quantity in solution. The true interpretation of these facts and statements will be readily deduced from the following experimental details. 1. Production and properties of the new acid formed from sulphuric acid and naphthaline. Naphthaline, which had been almost entirely freed from naphtha by repeated sublimation and pressure, was pulve- rised ; about one part with three or four parts by weight of cold sulphuric acid were put into a bottle, well shaken, and left for 36 hours. The mixture then contained a tenacious * Quarterly Journal of Science, viii. 289, 1819. f Philosophical Transactions, 1821, p. 216. J Annals of Philosophy, N. S. vi. p. 136, 1823.