Chemical Science, ' \8S& 



Sweet Oil of PFiiie. — "That which we examined had been 

 separated from ether by distillation ; as it requires a high tempera- 

 ture for ebullition, nearly the whole remained in the retort. It was 

 then boiled until a part distilled ; and, lastly, it was distilled from 

 chloride of calcium, and a little potash. Thus prepared, its density 

 was equal to .9174, at 51° F." 



" The sweet oil of wine is merely a hydro-carbon, but the carburet 

 differs from all those which have been as yet analyzed in the propor- 

 tion of its principles."* It gave — 



Carbon 88.36—88.8 



Hydrogen .11.64—11.2 



This indicates that the substance is composed of four volumes 

 vapour of carbon, and three volumes of hydrogen. 



Sulphovinous acid was analyzed in the form of sulphovinates of 

 baryta, of copper, of lead, &c., and the results are given in a mixed 

 form, being partly experimental, partly hypothetical ; as for instance, 

 because sulphate of baryta and sulphurous acid were obtained, there 

 is set down, amongst results obtainedy hyposulphate of baryta, 

 &c. The conclusion, however, is, that sulphovinic acid, in a sup- 

 posed dry state, is composed of 



1 atom hyposulphuric acid 902.32 



8 atoms carbon 301.32 



6 atoms hydrogen 37.50 



1 atom of sulphovinic acid 1241.14 



The theory of etherification is, then, considered as very simple ; 

 the acid and the alcohol divide into two parts, of which one produces 

 sweet oil of wine, hyposulphuric acid and water, whilst the other 

 portion of acid and alcohol produce diluted acid and ether ; on 

 the whole, it is concluded, that the formation of sulphovinic acid, or 

 sweet oil of wine, although they take place simultaneously with the 

 production of ether, have nothing to do with the evolution of the 

 latter body. 



MM. Dumas and Boullay then consider the formation and na- 

 ture of the sulphovinic acid, stating the opinions of MM. Vogel 

 and Gay-Lussac, that it is a compound of hyposulphuric acid 

 with a vegetable matter, and also that of Mr. Hennel, that it is an 

 acid in which half the saturating powers of the sulphuric acid 

 present is neutralized by the hydrocarbon in combination. With 

 the latter opinion they also class that entertained by Mr. Faraday 

 relative to the nature of sulpho-naphthalic acid. MM. Dumas and 

 Boidlay consider the question, and decide in favour of the former 

 opinion, after which they say they have observed facts which are 

 better explained by the latter. We think it a pity that these phi- 

 losophers did not refer to Mr. Hennel's paper in the Philosophical 

 Transactions for 1826, p. 240, where they would have gained tlie 



' * Mr. Hcnncl has already prepared and analyzed this substance, but with different 

 results.— See PhU. Transactions, 1826; p. 247. 



