Note 56 — Chapter VI · TTHE COMPOUNDS OF NITROGEN WITH HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN

This reaction is taken advantage of for converting the amides, NH2R (where R is an element or a complex group) into hydroxides, RHO. In this case NH2R + NHO2 forms 2N + H2O + RHO; NH2, is replaced by HO, the radicle of ammonia by the radicle of water. This reaction is employed for transforming many nitrogenous organic substances having the properties of amides into their corresponding hydroxides. Thus aniline, C6H5·NH2, which is obtained from nitrobenzene, C6H5·NO2 (Note 37), is converted by nitrous anhydride into phenol, C6H5·OH, which occurs in the creosote extracted from coal tar. Thus the H of the benzene is successively replaced by NO2, NH2, and HO; a method which is suitable for other cases also.