Abstract
The nitro humic acids were prepared from the lignite humic acids by the action of nitric acid on various conditions, and the outline of the action of nitric acid on the humic acids were studied from the chemical natures of the various samples of the nitro humic acids. The most important reaction of nitric acid was oxidation. Hydrolysis was also comparatively important. This conclusion was made clearer by drawing the rational formulas of a few samples of the nitro humic acids, which were obtained in comparatively large quantities on a few conditions . On the other hand we found the formations of hydrogen cyanide and ammonia by the action of nitric acid on the humic acids, and estimated the quantities of them . We assumed their formation originated from the phenolic natures of the humic acids . Moreover we found that a part of diazomethan added to the nitro humic acids when the nitro humic acids were methylated by diazomethan, and we thought this fact came from the carbon and carbon double bond linkages in the nitro humic acids molecules.
