Dr. T. Thomson on Pi/rorylic Spirit and its Compounds. 91 



Carbon 49*2 or 6 atoms = 4*5 or per cent. 48'65 



Hydrogen 8-3 or 6 atoms = 0*75 8-11 



Oxygen 4<2*5 or 4 atoms = 4*00 — — 43*24 



100-0 9-25 100-00 



This is equivalent to C H^ O + C^ H^ O^. 



The specific gravity of the vapour of acetate of methylene 

 is 2*563, as determined by Dumas and Peiigot. Now, the 

 specific gravity of 



1 volume methylene vapour = 1*5972 



1 volume acetic acid vapour...... = 3*5416 



2)5*1388 



2*5694 

 M. Laurent passed a current of chlorine gas slowly through 

 acetate of methylene, and then distilled the liquid, leaving 

 out the first portions which contained two oils. He obtained 

 a colourless liquid, heavier than water, insoluble in water, but 

 soluble in aether and alcohol. It boiled at 293°, and could 

 be distilled over unaltered. Liquid potash attacked it, the 

 liquid became brown, and a vapour was disengaged having 

 a strong smell and a sweet taste. Perhaps, also, formate of 

 potash was formed. The liquid v^^as analyzed by Laurent, and 

 found composed of 



Carbon 20*25 



Hydrogen 1*71 



Chlorine 63*09 



Oxygen 14*95 



100*00 

 From these numbers (which are only distant approximations) 

 he deduces the following formula : — 



6 atoms carbon = 4*5 or per cent. 22*09 



3 atoms hydrogen = 0*375 1*84 



3 atoms chlorine = 13*5 66*25 



2 atoms oxygen =2*0 9*82 



20*375 

 But it would be unsafe to draw deductions from this ana- 



sis 



* 



5. Formate of methylene. — Dumas and Peiigot obtained this 



compound by distilling in a retort a mixture of about equal 



parts of sulphate of methylene and dry formate of soda. 



When the mixture is gently heated, the reaction commences, 



* Ann. de Chini. et de Phi/s., Ixiii. 382. 



