336 Rcfle&ians on the- Difference 



two acids docs not arife from a greater concentration on tHd 

 part of the acetic acid, concludes by laying: 



iff, That there is a difference between the acetous and 

 acetic acid. 



2d, That this difference arifes from a lefs proportion of 

 carbon in the acetic acid than in the acetous acid. 



3d, That the acetous acid docs not pais to the ftate of 

 acetic acid but by carbonization. 



4th, That the difference which exifis between that acid 

 and fomc others equally fufccptible of modifications by 

 changes made in the proportions of their condiment princi- 

 ples is, that in this acid the oxygen does not appear fufccpti- 

 ble of addition nor fubtracTfcion, and that the carbon alone 

 experiences variations and determines all the changes, while 

 in other acids it is the oxygen which varies and occafions 

 the changes. 



I am of opinion with Chaptal, that there is a difference 

 between the acetous and acetic acids : I even admit that the 

 latter contains lefs carbon than the acetous acid; but does 

 the acetous acid pafs to the ftate of acetic acid only by de- 

 carbonization, as that celebrated chemift afferts ? I do not 

 think fo. On the contrary, I hope to be able to prove, by 

 feveral experiments: ift, That the difference which exifts 

 between the two acids is owing to the different proportions 

 of oxygen: 2d, That this fubftance is in greater quantity in 

 the acetic than the acetous acid : 3d, That by adding oxygen 

 to the acetous acid it may be made to pals to the ftate of 

 acetic acid. 



C. Adet having laid it down as a principle, that the acid of 

 vinegar, in its combination with potafti, is in the ftate of 

 acetic acid, and, as Chaptal has not difputed this affertion, 

 which, if correal, would give great weight to the opinion of 

 C. Adet, I thought it proper firft of all to examine whether,, 

 as C. Adet afferts, the acetic acid, obtained from the decom- 

 pofition oftheacetite of potafh, by means of fulphuric acid, 

 really exifted in that fait, became that chemift fays " the 

 acetic acid is obtained before the leaft atom of fulphureous 

 acid manifefts itfelf/ 1 or rather, whether it be not owing to 

 a commencement of the decompofition of the latter acid, as 

 feems to be proved by the fulphureous acid obtained towards 

 the end of the operation. To obtain a folution of this pro- 

 blem, which appeared to me to be of the utmoft impor- 

 tance, I thought it would be fufficient to employ an inde- 

 compofable acid, which, however, mould be fufccptible of 

 acquiring a concentration nearly equal to that of the ful- 

 phuric acid. As the muriatic acid appeared to me topoffefs 



all 



