304 On the Formation of the Phosphoric Ether, &c, 



Limewater became turbid, but not until after the distil- 

 lation was over. 



Besides the air in the vessels, a gas of a pungent smelf 

 was collected, which burned with a white flame, depositing 

 upon the sides of the bell-glass a very abundant charry coat- 

 ing : this was a little ether which had escaped condensation, 

 passed over at the same time with the most etherized liquid 

 product, and a little before the white vapours which an- 

 nounce the presence of oil. 



There remained in the retort a vitreous blackish substance, 

 composed of phosphoric acid and a little charcoal. 



The two first products united, of the weight of 380 gram- 

 mes, rectified over dry muriate of lime at a heat of about 50 

 degrees, furnished about 60 grammes of a liquor having the 

 greatest possible resemblance, in point of smell and taste, 

 to the purest sulphuric ether. Like the latter, it marked 60 

 degrees in Baume's areometer, the thermometer being at 10°; 

 it was dissolved in eight or ten parts of cold water, was ra- 

 pidly evaporated in the air, entered into ebullition at thirty 

 degrees of temperature, dissolved the resins and phosphorus, 

 burned with a whitish flame, leaving a charry residuum, and 

 without any trace of acid having been exhibited by its com- 

 bustion over the surface of water. 



The other products of the rectification were alcohol slightly 

 etherized : this alcohol when again passed, in the manner 

 already shown, through the phosphoric acid used in the ex- 

 periments, occasioned the formation of a new quantity of 

 ether in every respect similar to the first* 



It seems to result from the preceding facts, and from the 

 examination of the above products, 



1st, That the phosphoric acid can transform alcohol into 

 a perfect ether by means of the apparatus which I used, and 

 by attending to the precautions already described. 



2dly, That the ether which results from the action of the 

 phosphoric acid upon alcohol is, of all the ethers known, 

 that which has the most analogy with sulphuric ether, both 

 with respect to its properties and to the phenomena ob- 

 served in its preparation. 



LV. Me- 



