A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

344 THE CHEMISTRY OF
oxygen from a mixture of gases, but it is not adapted for a quantitative
determination of oxygen, because there is always a small quantity of
carbon monoxide formed at the same time. By boiling it -with concentrated
caustic potash, it is decomposed into acetic acid, oxalic
acid, and carbon dioxide. The salts of silver, gold, &c, are reduced
to the metallic state by pyrogallic acid.
By the action of acetyl chloride on pyrogallol, triawtyl-jryrogaUol
C6H8(O.CaH3O)2 is obtained, a white crystalline solid; and by acting
on pyrogallol with bromine, it yields tribrmopyrogallol C6Br8(OH)g,
separating from alcohol in large colourless crystala
roH
Phloroghcin CMA Off is produced by fusing phloretin, quercitrin,
{ OH
or maclurin (see Glucosides) with caustic potash; and is also obtained
by the same reaction from kino, dragon's-blood, gamboge, &c. It
crystallizes from an aqueous solution in large rhombic prisms, containing
two molecules of water, and possessing a sweet taste. The
anhydrous compound melts at 220°, and sublimes, when heated more
strongly. It forms deliquescent salts with alkalis, and reduces alkaline
copper-solutions. Ferric chloride imparts to its aqueous solution
a deep-violet colour. By treating it with acetyl chloride, it is converted
into triaedyl-pMoroglucin CjH^O.CgHgO)^ which crystallizes
in small prisms. By adding bromine-water to an aqueous solution of
phloroglucin, a precipitate of tribronwpMoroglvdn C6Br8(OH). is
produced, which crystallizes in long needles. By the action of dilute
nitric acid, it is converted into nitrojphloroglucin C6Ha.NO3(OH)8,
crystallizing in small reddish-yellow plates. When phloroglucin is
dissolved in ammonia, phloramine or wmidophloroqlucin CaHs(NHj)-
(OH)3 is formed, which is not freely soluble in alcohol, and crystallizes
in small thin plates, resembling mica; it is a base, forming crystalline
salts.
(OH
Filicic Acid, or JHhityryl-pMorogluein CjHg-J J OCOC4HjO,
occurs in
(.0C4Hr0
the root of the male fern (AspiMum Mix-mas), and is deposited
from the etherial extract of this root in crystals. On fusing it with
caustic potash, it is resolved jnto butyric acid and phloroglucin.
METALUC PE1UVAT1VES OK BBMZENE.
Memiry-diphenyl ^ a ^ j Hg is formed by the action of sodium
amalgam on bromobenzene. It is insoluble iu water, and crystallizes
from benzene in long colourless prisms, melting at 120°, A small
quantity may be snblimed by heating it carefully; but on heating a
larger quantity to above 300°, decomposition sets in; and benzene,
diphenyl, carbonaceous matter, and free mercury are formed. By the