ON NITROUS ETfTER. l4^ 



bility, and a peculiar smell, ^ive to them all a common cba^ Have a com- 



, „ n 1 .1 '^1 i.1 tnon cyiuracter. 



rp.cter, which does not allow us to confound them with other 



substances: yet we have pnly an imperfect knowledge of the Yet differ, 

 differences that distinguish thew, and our theory of their 

 production is perhaps still more imperfect. It is trn« 

 Messrs. Fourcroy and Vauquelln have thrown much light 

 on the production of sulphuric ether ; but tlieir explanation 

 does not admit of being extended to some others. It wM 

 of importance therefore to resume this subject, and treat it 

 in a general manner. This Mr. Thenard has undertaken. 

 In the first paper he has presented to the Institute he treats 

 on nitric ether; from this he intends to proceed to others J 

 knd he will examine why some acids have the property of 

 producing ether, and others have not. 



The processes recommended by different chemists for the Various pro- 

 . 1 , . 1 T./r mi 1 • , ceases ofmak' 



production of mtnc ether, which Mr. 1 henard reviews, are ji^g jj, 



tery discordant, and have no other object than the ethereal 

 liquor to be obtained, without any analysis of the gaseous 

 products, or any consideration of the circumstances of the 

 process; if a memoir by the Dutch chemists be excepted, 

 ^hich Mr. Thenard examines particularly at the conclusion 

 of his own. Accordingly he found himself obliged to treat 

 his subject independantly of the labours of others. 



Mr. Thenard began with distilling a mixture of equal ^/^"^/^i^^^f]'^^ 

 weights of alcohol and nitric acid, both of given strengths, in and alcohol 

 an apparatus adapted for the separation of the flluid from the ^^stilled. 

 gaseous products. A gentle heat is sufficient; and indeed 

 the action soon becomes so brisk, that it is necessary to slip- 

 press even that. He afterward examined the residuum in 

 the retort, the fluid product, and the gasses. 



The residuum was composed of nitrous acid, acetic acid, Residuum, 

 alcohol, water, afld a small quantity of matter, the nature of 

 which is uncertain, but which is easily carbonized. The pro- 

 portions of these he ascertained by ingenious and accurate 

 methods. If the distillation be carried on to dryness, the , 



tiscouS residuum contains oxalic acid, and probably malic. 



The distilled liquor, which is considered in the shops as The distilled 

 . , . ^ . . hquor, onm- 



nitric ether, is composed of water, nitrous acid, acetic acid, pure ether. 



ether, ..nd probably alcohol. 



The gaseous product in particular required miich patrence Masses produ- 



VoL.XVIII-OcT. 1807. L and*"^" 



