145 



ON NrTROUS ETHER, 



and ability, to separate it into its dilferent elements, to as-* 

 sign to each of these the properties dependant on it, and to 

 explain the differences that result from the circumstances iu 

 which they are placed. It was composed of nitrous ga^', 

 a2ote, oxide of azote, nitrous acid gas, carbonic acid, and 

 etliereous gas, whicli it was particularly necessary to separate 

 from the rest, in order to examine its properties. By these 

 experiments, wliich may be termed preliminary, the author 

 was led to the following process for separating the pure ether, 

 and examining it, either in the liquid or ga-^eous state. 

 Mr.HienarcTs ^^^^ * retoti: he put five hectogrammes [l6oz. 48grs. troy] 

 jjrocess, of alcohol, and as much nitric acid, and adapted to it in suc- 



cession by means of glass tubes five tall bottles half tilled 

 with a saturate solution of muriate of soda. In the last was 

 a tube opening under ajar to collect the gaseous pait. All 

 the bottles were surrounded with a mixture of pounded ice 

 and salt, which was stirred occasionally. To commence the 

 operation a little fire was applied, but it was soon necessary 

 to extinguish it, and even to cool the retort. 



The fluid left in the retort was similar to that of the first 

 experiment already mentioned. 

 The ether pro- ^^ ^^^ surface of the solution in all the bottles was found 

 duced. a yellowish liquid; which weighed, when the whole was coU 



lected together, 2^5 gr. [8 oz. 98 grs]. That in the first 

 bottle was a niixture of alcohol, ether, acetic acid, and ni- 

 trous acid : t,hat in the others was nitric ether free from al- 

 Its properties, cohol. The nitric ether in this state has a strong smell: it 

 is specifically lighter than water, and heavier than alcohol : 

 dissolves in any proportion in the latter, but requires near 48 

 parts of water to dissolve it, and at the same time is partly 

 decomposed by it, as will appear below. It possesses the 

 property of combustibility in a high degree; yet it strongly 

 reddens infusion of litmus, owing to a little nitrous and ace- 

 tic acid that it retains, and which may be separated by 

 means of lime. 



_ - , The volatility of ether thus prepared is so great, that it 



Much more "^ r i • ' , p , , 



vblatile than indicates a tension of 0*73 of a metre, while that of the best 

 srulphuric. sulphuric ether, under the same circumstanes, is but 0*46 of 

 a metre, at 21" of the centigrade thermometer [705 F], and 

 at 0-76 of a metre [29*7 in.] of atmospheric pressure. At 



this 



