Mr. Davy on a new Gaseous Compound of Carbon and Hydrogen. 85 



Now, as in each of the preceding experiments, all the new gas disappeared, 

 together with one-half of its volume of oxygen ; and there was produced, a 

 volume of carbonic acid gas, exactly double the bulk of the new gas employed ; it 

 seems obvious, that the diminution arose from the union of the hydrogen of the 

 new gas, with half its volume of oxygen ; and that its carbon required for con- 

 sumption twice its volume of oxygen. I therefore conclude, that one volume 

 of the new gas, requires for its complete combustion, two and a half volumes of 

 oxygen ; of which, half a volume unites with its hydrogen, to form water, and 

 the remaining two volumes, with its carbon, forming carbonic acid gas. Hence, 

 the new gas appears to consist of one volume of hydrogen, and two volumes of 

 the vapour of carbon, condensed into one volume ; and 100 cubic inches of it 

 should weigh, 28.4378 grains, and contain, — 



100 cubic inches of hydrogen, (ther. 60°, bar. 30°,) 2.1318 grains. 



200 cubic inches of vapour of carbon, . , 26.3060 



Weight of 100 cubic inches of new gas, . '. 28.4378 

 The density of the new gas, should be 0.917 (estimating the weight of 100 cubic 

 inches of atmospheric air, at 31.0117,) for 31.0117 : 28.4378 : : 1.000 : 0.917. 

 The above weights of hydrogen and carbon, are nearly in the ratio of 

 1 equivalent of hydrogen, .... 1 



and 2 equivalents of carbon, . . , , 12,24 



13.24 



So that the equivalent of the new gas is 13.24; the formula by which it is ex- 

 pressed is 2 c -j- H, or c^-J~ H ; and the name I shall venture to propose for it is 

 Bicarhuret of Hydrogen, which simply expresses its chemical constitution. 



Additional evidence, that the carbon in one volume of bicarhuret of hydro- 

 gen, requires two volumes of oxygen to convert it into carbonic acid gas, was 

 obtained, by firing a mixture of four measures of It, with twenty-two measures 

 of nitrous gas ; when eight measures of carbonic acid gas were produced. 



The effects of chlorine and also of electricity on the bicarhuret of hydrogen, 

 tend to confirm the fact, that it contains only its own volume of hydrogen. In 

 the spontaneous mutual action of chlorine and bicarhuret of hydrogen, these 

 gases appear merely to condense each other in about equal volumes ; forming 



