An introduction to the study of the compounds of carbon / by Ira Remsen.

  • Remsen, Ira, 1846-1927
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An introduction to the study of the compounds of carbon / by Ira Remsen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    122/384 (page 106)
    We found that under the head of oxygen derivatives, the most important and most distinctly characteristic derivatives of hydro-carbons are met with ; as, the alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, acids, ethereal salts, and ketones. The sulphur derivatives, some of which closely resemble the oxygen derivatives, include the sulphur alcohols or mercaptans, sulphur ethers, and sulplionic acids. On beginning the consideration of the nitrogen derivatives we found it desirable first to take up certain derivatives con- taining the cyanogen group, among which are cyanogen, hydro- cyanic acid, cyanic acid, and sulphocyanic acid. Many interest- ing carbon compounds are closely related to these fundamental compounds. Such, for example, are the cyanides and carba- mines, the cyanates and isocyanates, the sulpho-cyanates and iso-sulpho-cyanates or mustard-oils. Following the compounds related to cyanogen, we took up the interesting compounds which are related to ammonia, the substituted ammonias or amines. Then came the nitro-derivatives; and, finally, the compounds of the hydrocarbon residues or radicals with metals. It is of the greatest importance that the student should master the preceding portion of this book. If he studies care- fully the reactions which have been considered, and which are statements in chemical language which tell us the conduct of the various classes of derivatives, and if he performs the ex- periments which have been described, he will have a fair general knowledge of the kinds of relations which are met with in con- nection with the compounds of carbon through the whole field. As stated in the Introduction : u If we know what derivatives one hydrocarbon can yield, we know what derivatives we may expect to find in the case of ever}^ other hydrocarbon.” The more the student practises the use of the equations thus far given, the better he will be prepared to follow the remain- ing portions of the book. Indeed, it may be said that, if he thorough^ understands what has gone before, what follows will appear extremely simple. Whereas, if he has failed at anv