330 



ON OLEFIANT QA«« 



Properties of 

 the substance 

 formed. 



(1.) It was a liquid of a greenish white colou;*, with a 

 slight smell of oximuriatic ncid, which it lost when allowed 

 to stand a suflicient time exposed to the air. Its taste was 

 sweet and cooling, and it made a strong, though not uu* 

 pleasant, impression on the palate. 



(2.) When dropped into water, it fell to the bottom, 

 and looked like so much melted phosphorus. It continued 

 in this state for some time if left at rest ; but when t^ie 

 mixture was agitated, it dissolved in the water. The liquid 

 continued colourless, acquired a sweet and cooling agreea* 

 ble taste, and a slight aromatic odour. It did not affect 

 vegetable blues, but precipitated copiously with nitrate of 

 silver. 



(3.) When dropped into alcohol, the liquid appeared 

 milky at first, but almost hnmediately became transparent, 

 a complete solution being effected. 



(4.) Sulphuric ether dissolved it with great rapidity, and 

 the solution was colourless. 



(5.) It did not dissolve in oil of turpentine, but conti. 

 nued in small globules, which attached themselves to the 

 I^ottom of the vessel. 



(6.) It dissolved immediately Jn nitric acid, without 

 effervescence, or any apparent change in the liquid. 



(7.) When dropped into sulphuric acid, a copious effer* 

 Tescence took place, the smell of oximuriatic acid became 

 evident, and the liquid remained clear. 



(8.) When left in an open vessel, it evaporated com- 

 pletely, leaving only a green trace. 



From these properties, it is obvious, that the liquid in 



itesembles the question does not belong to the class of oils. It is a sub- 



pyro-acetic stance of a uftture quite peculiar, and seems to consist of 



the two gasses simply combined together. It has consi- 



dcrable resemblance, at least in taste, to the pyro-acetic 



spirit of Mr. Chenevix, 



Detonated with ^ Wheti ple^ant gas is mixed with thrice its bulk of 



oxigen gas, it detonates very loudly, when an electric 



spark is passed through it, and burns with a strong white 



ilame. According to Mr. Dalto^n, it consumes exactly 



thrice its bulk of oxigen gas, and form«j twice its bulk of 



carbonic acid. My experiments, as will appear from the 



following 



J^ot on oil. 



Oxigen. 



