COAL TAR PRODUCTS.
When coal gas was first introduced as an illuminant for large towns the far which is condensed from the gas was looked upon as a nuisance. The gas companies could not get rid of it, try as they would. However, chemists discovered that coal tar was an exceedingly complicated compound and lent itself admirably to the production of a great number of useful chemicals. So we find to-day that many of the various brilliant and beautiful dyes employed for colouring various kinds of fabrics are produced from this substance. Coal tar also furnishes the basis for several kinds of medicines, such as trional, sulphonal, and so on. Saccharine, which is a substitute for sugar, is also made from coal tar. Carbolic acid (phenol), the most important and best known antiseptic and disinfectant, is a product of coal tar. Benzol, a clear and colourless liquid resembling alcohol to some extent, is another distillate which is employed for removing grease spots. Then we have napthaline, a substance which to some extent resembles camphor, and is employed like camphor, to protect wollen fabrics from moths.
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Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1984, 16 April 1906, Page 7
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185COAL TAR PRODUCTS. Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1984, 16 April 1906, Page 7
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