BlvISHA MITCHELL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 15 



lene. The odor was, however, peculiar. The same 

 experiment was tried several times with a concentrated 

 solution of bromine in water. The action ag-ain was 

 very violent but there was no spontaneous ignition of 

 the g-as. Little difference could be detected between 

 this and the action of the chlorine water. 



Action of Acids. — A piece of the carbide was placed 

 in concentrated pure sulphuric acid. A few small bub- 

 bles came off but the action seemed lig-ht. On heating-, 

 the action was greatly increased and continued after 

 the removal of the flame. A g-as was given off which 

 burned with a luminous flame. 



A mixture of sulphuric acid and potassium bichro- 

 mate acted most violently upon the carbide. There 

 seemed to be a very vigorous oxidation, and several 

 attempts at igniting the gas given off resulted in fail- 

 ure. There could have been very little, if any, acet}^- 

 lene present in it. 



Strong nitric acid attacked the carbide with the for- 

 mation of brown-red fumes. The gas evolved could 

 be ignited and burned with a smoky flame. 



Glacial acetic acid decomposed the carbide slow^ly in 

 the cold. 



It may be added that no change was observed on 

 adding a piece of the carbide to some boiling sulphur. 

 On allowing the mass to cool the carbide was regained 

 in its original condition. 



Actio7i of Alkalies. — X few grams of sodium hy- 

 droxide were melted in a nickel dish and a piece of the 

 carbide was added. There was violent action, a gas 

 being given off which burned with a luminous flame 

 and which was taken to be acetylene. 



A small amount of sodium dioxide was also melted 

 in a nickel dish. When the carbide \vas added to this 



