between the Acetous and Acetic Acids. 33) 



all the requifite properties, I proceeded in the following 

 manner. 



Exper. I. One part of concentrated muriatic acid, and 

 two parts of the acetite of potafh, were put together into 

 a retort, and diftilled with a proper apparatus, till nothing 

 more pafTed over ; I then unluted the apparatus, and found 

 that the acid obtained was in every thing fimilar to concen- 

 trated diftilled vinegar ; only that it was mixed with a little 

 muriatic acid. 



Exper. II. Equal parts of concentrated muriatic, acid and 

 oxide of manganefe in powder, and two parts of the acetite 

 of potafh mixed together, and fubje&ed to diftillatioii, as in 

 the preceding experiment, gave me acetic acid, fimilar in all 

 its phyfical properties to that obtained by fulphuric acid, ex- 

 cept that it was mixed with a little oxygenated muriatic acid 

 which was difengaged towards the end of the operation. 



Exper. III. Acetite of potafh, mixed with the fourth of 

 its weight of fulphuric acid, was diftilled in a fand bath, in a 

 moderate heat. Acetic acid pafTed at the commencement 

 of the operation, and before the leaft atom of fulphureous 

 acid had manifefted itfelf, as obferved by C. Adet; but 

 when about the fourth of the liquor which I obtained had 

 pafTed, the fulphureous acid began to difengage itfelf, and 

 continued to do fo till the end of the operation. 



It evidently refults, in my opinion, from thefe experi- 

 ments, that in the acetite of potafh the acid of vinegar is 

 not in the ftate of acetic acid, but of acetous acid, and that 

 an addition of oxygen is indifpenfable, to convert the 

 acetous acid into acetic. Thefe principles being once ad- 

 mitted, no doubt will remain that the fulphuric acid may 

 lofe a portion of its oxygen without however pafling to the 

 flate of fulphureous acid, as I have advanced in my effay on 

 the theory of ether, and confequently that this acid may be 

 in an intermediate ftate between the fulphuric and fulphu- 

 reous acid*. 



* Fourcroy and Vauquelin, in their obfervations on my work refpe&ing 

 ether, oppofe this opinion. It is not on fuppofitions, they fay, that the- 

 ories are elliblifhed, and they add, that I ought to have begun by proving 

 that the fulphuric acid may lofe a portion of its oxygen, without pafling 

 to the ftate of fulphureous acid. 1 am fenfible of thefuil force and juft- 

 nefs of this objection. I omitted proving this aflertion, becaufe I confi- 

 dered it as an acknowledged principle, which the experiments contained 

 in my elTay on ether, and that described in the obfervations of the above 

 chemifts, only confirmed. Though it is only a fiiort time mice I received 

 the volume of the Annates which contain thefe objections, I have em- 

 ployed myftlf on the means of obviating them, and two experiments 

 which 1 have already made give me hopes of fuccccdira 



Vol. X. Y If 



