ON NITROUS ETHER. 147; 



this temperature, and this pressure, therefore, it is at the 

 limit of its existence in the liquid state. 



But if nitric ether be deprived of its acidity by means of Soon becomes 

 lime, it scon becomes acid again, whether it be redistilled,^^^ ' 

 left in contact with the air, or kept in full and closed bot- 

 tles. This formation of acid takes place, when ether ia 

 treated with water, particularly at a temperature from 25* ta 

 ,S8<^ [77° to 86^']. The author explains the formation 6f this 

 acid by the reciprocal action of the principles that constitute 

 etlier, and which are found to be feebly retained in it by 

 combination. 



Mr. Thenard next proceeds to the decomposition of Analysed by 

 nitric ether by heat, and analyses the gasses arising from it. ^^** 

 Founding his calculations on the most accurate data we 

 possess, the result is, that 100 parts of nitric ether, rejecting Its^con^po^ent 

 fractions, are composed of azote iG, carbon 39, oxigen 34, 

 hidrogen 9« 



Hence he infers what passes in the reciprocal action of Action of nitric 

 alcohol and nitric acid. The oxigen of this acid combines ^^^^^ on alcohol 

 with a great part of the hidrogen of the alcohol, and with a 

 very small quantity of its carbon. Hence result, 1st, a 

 great deal of Water, a great deal of gaseous oxide of azote, a 

 little carbonic acid, a little nitrous acid and nitrous gag: 

 2dly, the separation of a small quantity of azote, and the 

 formation of a great deal of nitric ether, by the combination 

 of a pretty large quantity of the two principles of nitric acid 

 with the alcohol dishidrogenized and slightly decarbonized : 

 3dly, the formation of a little acetic acid, and a small quan- ^ 



tity of a matter easily carbonized, by the combination of a 

 part of the hidrogen with carbon and oxigen. 



Supported by these deductions, Mr. Thenard discusses pormer pro 

 the processes published before him for obtaining nitric ether, cesses, some 

 and he shows, that some are dangerous to attempt; that none *^''^'^S^'^°"*> 

 of them furnish the whole of the ether, that mi«ht be ob- all wasteful, 

 tained from the same ingredierits ; and that all jofthena yield ^^^ ^^^ ^^j^ej 

 only more or less compounded licjuors, in which the nitric impure, 

 ether, though they bear its name, constitutes but a part. 



The Dutch chemists have published some interesting re- Thehypoihe- 

 searches on nitric ether, or rather on the gasses obtained by sis of the 

 the action of nitric acid on alcohol. But to explain the mis^s^e^rrone- 

 L 2 . curious ous. 



