478 Prof. Hare's Observations on 



first receiver, it was found that in the otlier retorts severally, 

 there were liquids of various degrees of volatility. That in 

 the last boiled at 28°, but the boiling points rose gradually 

 as the quantity of the residual liquid diminished. 



In order to ascertain the nature of the sulph-acids abstracted 

 from the aethereal sulphurous sulphate of aetherine by the 

 ammonia employed, chloride of barium was added in excess 

 to the resulting ammoniacal solution, until no further preci- 

 pitate would ensue. The liquid having been rendered quite 

 clear by filtration, soon became milky. By evaporation to 

 dryness, and exposure to a red heat, a residuum was obtained 

 which proved partially insoluble in chlorohydric acid, and 

 by ignition with charcoal, yielded sulphide of barium. It 

 appears, therefore, that a hyposulphate of barytes existed in 

 the liquid after it was filtered: as I believe that the hyposul- 

 phuric acid is the only oxacid of sulphur which is capable of 

 forming with barytes a soluble compound, susceptible, by ex- 

 cess of oxygen, of being converted into an insoluble sulphate, 

 and precipitating in consequence. 



It must be evident from the facts which I have narrated, 

 that the yellow liquid obtained by distilling equal measures of 

 sulphuric acid and alcohol, consists of oil of wine held in so- 

 lution by sulphurous aether, composed of nearly equal volumes 

 or weights of its ingredients ; also, that the affinity between 

 the celker and the acid is analogous to that which exists be- 

 tween alcohol and water. The apparent detection of sul- 

 phuric acid in the ammonia, justifies a surmise, that the 

 aetherine distils in the state of a hyposulphate, which subse- 

 quently undergoes a decomposition into sulphurous acid and 

 sulphate of aetherine. 



The liquid above alluded to, as resulting from the satura- 

 tion of the aethereal sulphurous sulphate of aetherine by am- 

 monia, and distillation by means of a water-bath gradually 

 raised to a boiling heat, is a very fragrant variety of oil of 

 wine. It differs from that described by Berzelius as the 

 heavy oil of wine of Hennel and Serullas, in being lighter 

 and containing less sulphuric acid. 1 have a specimen exactly 

 of the specific gravity of water, and have had one so light as 

 to float on that liquid. The oil of wine obtained by ammonia 

 approximates, in its qualities, to the variety which Thenard 

 describes as light oil of wine. The presence of sulphuric acid 

 in a definite or invariable ratio does not appear requisite to 

 the distinctive flavour or odour of oil of wine. 



The heavy oil of wine treated by Hennel as sulphate of 



hydro-carbon, 2 S + ^-C H ; aiid by Serullas as a hydrous sul- 



