Introduction to the study of organic chemistry : the chemistry of carbon and its compounds / by Henry E. Armstrong.

  • Armstrong, Henry Edward, 1848-1937.
Date:
1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Introduction to the study of organic chemistry : the chemistry of carbon and its compounds / by Henry E. Armstrong. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    which, having the same composition, yet possess differ- ent energies, would also serve to explain their different behaviour under the influence of reagents. There is reason to believe that, of two isomerides, that of higher energy would in most cases enter into reaction more readily than that of lower energy, just as chlorine, an element of high energy—which in combining with hydrogen liberates a far greater amount of heat than do either bromine or iodine—is a far more energetic reagent than either of these. Hitherto but little attention has been paid to this field of enquiry, which the study of the thermic phenomena accompanying chemical reactions affords. In it, however, undoubtedly lies hidden the explanation of many at pre- sent obscure problems in chemical science. CHAPTER II. CLASSIFICATION OF CARBON COMPOUNDS. The unit weight (twelve parts) of carbon is capable of uniting with at most four unit weights of hydrogen or other monad elements. The simplest known hydride of carbon has the composition CH4, and is incapable of combining with chlo- rine, bromine, &c., being what is termed a saturated com- pound, but may exchange the whole or part of its hydrogen for an equivalent quantity of another element. Carbonic anhydride, C02, hydrocyanic acid, H'C'^'N7', and cyano- gen chloride, C1'C////N/, are compounds which may be thus regarded as j?/^//V////<?;/-derivatives of the first hydride of carbon. In the following, certain of these simpler compounds, which may thus be regarded as derived from the first hydride of carbon, will be shortly described before proceeding to the consideration of the hydrides themselves.