Mr. R'lggh further Observations on ultimate Analysis, 233 



from six to eight inches long is folded a little dry amianthus 

 covering about one inch of its length ; this amianthus is then 

 rolled in black oxide of copper^ and is with the wire put into 

 the small tube which contains the liquid to be analysed. The 

 whole is then placed within the analysing tube, which is filled 

 up with black oxide of copper and amianthus, and proceeded 

 with as in the analysis of solids. 



The flame of the lamp being first applied to the part of the 

 analysing tube which is most remote from the liquid, the oxide 

 and the wire become ignited in this part; and as they gradually 

 conduct the heat to the other extremity of the tube, the vapour 

 of the liquid is by slow degrees given off, and in its passage 

 through the ignited oxide is decomposed. When the experi- 

 ment is nearly finished the flame of the lamp is extended to that 

 part of the tube where the liquid under analysis was placed, and 

 thus every portion of the vapour of the compound is brought 

 into contact with the oxide in a state of ignition. This con- 

 stitutes the analytical process : the methods of measuring and 

 calculating the gaseous products are the same as in the ana- 

 lysis of solids. I may add, that no dependence whatever can 

 be placed upon an experiment wherein the compound under 

 analysis has been subjected to a quick process. It will be 

 superfluous also for me to say, that in the analysis of volatile 

 liquids everything must be refrigerated. 



In this way I have analysed aether, alcohol, spirit of dif- 

 ferent kinds, acetic acid, sap of plants*, the liquid separated 

 by the drying of plants, &c., and the following are among the 

 results which I have obtained. 



Sp. gr. at 60°. Carbon. ^ Hydrogen. Water, 

 ^ther... 725 66*8 ' 10-9 22-3 100 



Do 740 64.'4 10-5 25-1 100 



Do 758 61-7 10-] 28-2 100 



Alcohol 804 53-6 8-7 37*7 100 



Do 819 50-6 8-3 41-1 100 



Do 825 50-0 8-2 41-8 100 



Spirit ... 839 46*6 7*6 45*8 100 



Do 920 27-6 4-5 67*9 100 



From these I think we are warranted in drawing the con- 

 clusion, that the following will be the constitution of 

 Sp. gr. at 60°' Carbon. Hydrogen. Water. 



^ther 700 70-6 11-5 17-9 100 



Do 720 67-6 11-1 21-3 100 



Alcohol ... 796 55-1 8-9 36*0 100 



* On evaporating to dryness the sap of plants at or near the boiling 

 temperature, the dry matter which is left does not contain more than from 

 two to four tenths of the compound of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen 

 which the sap at first contained. 



