Formaldehyde
HCO:H, formic aldehyde, methyl aldehyde; obtained when a current of air, charged with the vapor of methyl alcohol, is directed on an incandescent spiral of platinum wire.
The liquid collected reduces nitrate of silver, forming a mirror; a small quantity is formed by the action of the silent electric discharge on a mixture of hydrosilver, forming a mirror; a small quantity is formed by the action of the silent of formic acid, obtained by the dry dis- tillation of formate of ammonium, or by heating two parts of dry ammonium for- mate with one part of urea to 140°, till of formic acid, obtained by the dry distillation of formate of ammonium, or by mate with one part of urea to 140°, till heating two parts of dry ammonium forno more ammonium carbonate is given off. It is a liquid which distills in a vacuum at 150° at ordinary pressure, at 195° with partial decomposition: when quickly heated, it is decomposed into CO and NH3. of a single joint; the mandibles are triangular, and denticulated at the edge. The females are destitute of a sting. Of the footstalk of the abdomen composed of a single joint; the mandibles are trithe young of other species, such as those The females are destitute of a sting. Of these F. sanguinea makes its nest in wood, and is a slave holder, carrying off the young of other species, such as those of F. cunicularia and F. fusca. Of the foreign species, F. saccharivora makes its nest at the foot of sugar canes, so loosening the soil that they are blown down by gales. F. indefessa, an Indian species, is a great devourer of sweets.
See ANT.
OH, a monobasic fatty acid, which derives its name from the circumstance that it was first obtained by distilling rives its name from the circumstance that it was first obtained by distilling ants. It occurs in the animal and vegetable kingdoms, especially in the red ant, Formica rufa. When an ant walks over exists also in certain caterpillars, in sevmoistened blue litmus it turns it red. It eral secretions of the human body, as in blood, in urine, in the fish-juice, and in perspiration. It is also found in the blood, in urine, in the fish-juice, and in mercial oil of turpentine that has been exposed to the air, and in certain mineral springs. lip of the neueral springs. of aculeate Hymenoptera, tribe or subare wingless, the basal joint of the antribe Heterogyna. The abortive females tennæ in the females and neuters is long and elbowed; the upper lip ters, large, horny, and perpendicular, the first or second joint of the abdomen knotted. In many species the females erally social insects living in communiand neuters have stings. They are genties, consisting of males, females, and Formica and Myrmica have representaties, consisting of males, females, and neuters. The chief genera are Formica, Polyergus, Ponera, Myrmica, and Atta. tives widely distributed. or tives widely distributed. "Terrace Bay"), an island in the Chinese Sea, belonging to Japan; about 80 miles from the Chinese coast, from which it is separated by the Channel of Foh-kien FORMULA and 170 miles N. of Luzon, the chief of the Philippine Islands; length, N. to S. about 250 miles; breadth, in its center, about 80 miles; area estimated at 13,300 square miles. A chain of mountains runs through the island in its entire length, forming, in general, the barrier between the Chinese on the W., and the independent natives of th unexplored country on the E. side. On many of its peaks snow remains during the most of the summer.
It exhibits distinct evidence of former volcanic action, and sulphur, naphtha, and other volcanic products are abundant.
Some parts of the coast present bold headlands; but all of the W. shore is flat, and surrounded with rocks and shoals. Its harbors, which were formerly good, have now become nearly useless, owing to the encroachments of the land upon the sea. Ke-lung, at its N. extremity, is the only good port. Soil, highly fertile and productive. All the large plain of the S. resembles a vast cultivated garden. The principal productions are rice, sugar, camphor, tobacco, wheat, maize, millet, truffles, vegetables, and the choicest of Asiatic and European fruits; pepper, aloes, green tea, cotton, hemp, and silk are also important articles of cultivation. The leopard, tiger, wolf, etc., are found in the more impenetrable tracts of the interior; the domestic breeds of animals, game, etc., are abundant. The chief mineral deposits its are salt and sulphur. The trade is mostly in the hands of Chinese and British merchants, who also own all the shipping. The principal article of import is opium.
The natives bear no resemblance to the Chinese; but they have an apparent alliance with the Malay or Polynesian race. The Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch have been successively masters of this island. The latter were in 1662 expelled by the Chinese, and the former reoccupied it after the Chinese-Japanese War, in 1895. Pop. about 3,700,000, including resident Japanese citizens and soldiers. Capital, Taiwan City. Pop. 54,000.