320 Dr Bischors Examination of Three Inflammable Gases 



tible.* The deposited carbon had a peculiarly sharp taste, 

 which had some resemblance to that of mustard. The cylin- 

 der in which the carbon was deposited had the smell of chloric 

 ether. 



These experiments were performed during some clear days 

 at the beginning of November. On the 6th and 7th of Decem- 

 ber T endeavoured to repeat them, but in vain. On the 6th 

 there was a thick fog, and although the sun shone brightly 

 and broke through the mist, yet it was not possible to accom- 

 plish the decomposition of the pit-gas with deposition of car- 

 bon. On the 6th there was less fog, and it became concen- 

 trated on the Rhine, but a light vapour in the whole atmo- 

 sphere so weakened the sun's light, that, although the gaseous 

 mixture sank and afterwards again ascended, yet it was not 

 possible to produce a deposition of carbon, however frequently 

 the attempt was renewed. It is known that a mixture of hy- 

 drogen and chlorine gas likewise cannot be decomposed by 

 detonation, when the light of the sun is weakened even by 

 the most slender cloud or by a light vapour. 



§ V. Examination for Carbonic Oxide Gas, 



The strong blue colour of the flame of the pit-gas was in favour 

 of the presence of carbonic oxide gas. 1 tested for it by potas- 

 sium. After the pit-gas had been freed from carbonic acid gas 

 by agitation with liquid potash, it was, according to the process 

 of Gay Lussac and Thenard, introduced into a somewhat bent 

 tube filled with mercury, it was dried by means of chloride of 

 calcium, and a portion of potassium was made to ascend. The 

 potassium was then heated to the melting point. It was found, 

 however, after the tube was cooled, that not only was there 



* Dr Henry (Annales de Chimie et de Physique, vol. xviii. 1821), like- 

 ■\vise remarks, that the smell of the liquid, which is collected on the surface 

 of the glass receiver in which the oil or coal-gas has been mixed with chlo- 

 rine, indicates the presence of a compound of carburetted hydrogen with 

 chlorine, and of another fluid which seems to have a great resemblance to 

 oil of turpentine. When we take into consideration that pit-gas only re- 

 quires to give up 0.4 of its hydrogen, in order to be converted into oil of 

 turpentine, we can easily under.stand the possibility of the production of this 

 combination of carburetted hydrogen by means of the action of chlorine. 



