IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 87 



ethyl alcohol. Calcium carbide also combines with methyl 

 alcohol, but not at the temperature of the boiling alcohol. 



In one experiment, 500 grams of methyl alcohol, the 

 specific gravity of which was .820 as shown by the hydro- 

 meter (and which was therefore a 91 per cent, alcohol) 

 was treated with powdered, commercial calcium carbide. 

 The amount necessary was calculated from the equation 

 given above, and 20 per cent, was added to this in order to 

 provide for the impurities in the carbide and still leave an 

 excess. An evolution of acetylene began which rapidly 

 increased and the heat of reaction raised the temperature 

 of the alcohol to its boiling point, so that it became neces- 

 sary to attach a return condenser to prevent the loss of the 

 alcohol. The flask was thoroughly shakeu occasionally 

 during the reaction. When the action, which required 

 four or five hours had ceased, the flask and contents were 

 placed on a water bath and the alcohol boiled with a return 

 condenser for some time in order to drive off as much 

 acetylene as possible as it is quite soluble in methyl alcohol. 

 It was then distilled off with the usual precautions to keep 

 out the moisture of the air. All parts of the distillate still 

 contained considerable acetylene and anhydrous copper 

 sulphate was added to remove it. The flask was thoroughly 

 shaken and the alcohol redistilled. The first portion of the 

 distillate was rejected as it still smelled strongly of acety- 

 lene. The specific gravity of this specimen was not taken 

 but it must have been completely dehydrated, since it dis- 

 solved anhydrous copper sulphate with the formation of 

 the blue solution* of the formula, CaSO,-|-2CH40. 

 This takes place only with perfectly anhydrous methyl 

 alcohol. 



Dr. Theodore Schuchardts c. p methyl alcohol (which 

 had a specific gravity of .8187, and which was therefore a 

 92 per cent, alcohol), when treated with calcium carbide 

 evolved acetylene rapidly. When it had reached the point 

 where calcium carbide ceased to act upon it, it still had a 

 specific gravity of .8046. The density of the absolute 



•Klepl, Bor. dcr Deut. Chem. Gcs. p 15, R, 2mi ; and de Forcrand, Ibid. , XIX. R, 

 238. 



