14 JOURNAL OF THE 



Action of Hydrochloric Acid. — Hydrochloric acid 

 had no action upon this substance in the cold. When 

 passed over the heated substance it caused it to swell 

 up and assume a dirty g"ray appearance. A small 

 amount of a liquid, apparentl}^ water, collected in the 

 cooler portions of the tube and parts of the carbide 

 fused down in g-lass}' o;-lobules and masses. These 

 were soluble in water and were easily shown to be cal- 

 cium chloride. White fumes were evolved, some of which 

 settled as a white solid upon the sides of the tube. 



Action of Chlorine and Bromine. — When chlorine 

 was passed over fresh carbide in the cold no action was 

 observed. If even a moderate heat was applied, how- 

 ever, the lumps of carbide glowed very brightly, 

 swelled, and fused togfether. A slight yellowish white 

 sublimate was found in the tube. The fused mass was 

 calcium carbide. 



Bromine mixed with air was then passed over the 

 fresh carbide. In the cold no action was observed. On 

 heating, the carbide became red and the smaller pieces 

 glowed. The lumps fused together and bubbles were 

 observed on the surface as if some gas was escaping 

 from the mass. Some condensed matter was found 

 afterwards in the tube, and, on cooling-, a peculiar odor 

 was noticed different from that of the bromine. The 

 fused mass dissolved readily in water and gave the 

 tests for calcium bromide. Of course in this and the 

 previous experiment the black specks of graphitic car- 

 bon were found unchano^ed. It was easv to distino-uish 

 them from the carbide. A few pieces of the carbide 

 were dropped into strong, freshly prepared, chlorine 

 water. There was a very violent disengag'ement of gas 

 but it was not ignited as reported by Moissan. The 

 gas was inflammable and burnt very much like acety- 



