16 PROCEEDINGS OP THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



In the crude oil used in this examination, and in the other specimens 

 described above, nitrogen was determined by the Kjeldahl method, 

 and several closely concordant results were obtained by combustion 

 vrith soda lime; the former gave 0.11 per cent, and the other oils the 

 following percentages : — 



Findlay. Lima and Findlay. 



(1) 0.26 per cent 0.068 



(2) (a) 0.023, {b) 0.023 per cent 0.047 



(3) 0.21 per cent 0.054 



(4) 0.13 " 0.049 



(5) 0.35 " 0.060 



(6) 0.08 " 0.056 



(7) 0.024 



The presence of nitrogen in Ohio and Canadian petroleum will re- 

 ceive further attention at the close of this paper in some observations 

 on the origin of petroleum. 



The bromine absorption in the crude oils was determined by the 

 method described in Allen's Commercial Organic Analysis. A 

 weighed quantity of the oil was allowed to stand in the dark with 

 a slight excess of bromine dissolved in dry carbonic disulphide, and 

 the portion not absorbed was titrated with standard solutions of 

 sodic hyposulphite and iodine. The strength of the bromine solution 

 was ascertained by parallel titrations. Approximately one per cent 

 of hydrobromic acid is evolved in these determinations in crude 

 oils. 



Findlay. Lima and Findlay. Findlay. Lima and Findlay. 



(1) 11.29 8.74 (5) 13.07 10.93 



(2) 14.62 9.31 (6) 11.32 12.31 



(3) 10.55 11.49 (7) 12.06 



(4) 14.89 12.30 



A comparison of the bromine absorption of the sulphur oils with 

 that of oils from other sources indicates that bromine absorption is in- 

 dependent of sulphur compounds, and a distinctive property of petro- 

 leums in general. The following determinations were made: — 



Chinese petroleum 10.90 per cent 

 Italian petroleum 7.10 '• 



Macksburg, O., petroleum 9.74 " 



Berea Grit, 0., petroleum 10.71 " 

 California petroleum 9.88 " 



