58 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



determiuation, a value required for nonane ; found, 4.56; required for 

 C9H20, 4.43. Distillation of the fractions from Canadian petroleum 

 above 100° cannot be continued under atmospheric pressure without 

 decomposition, probably caused by the action of air upon the hot oil. 

 Unless, indeed, as some attempts have shown, it will be possible to 

 distil them in an atmosphere of carbonic dioxide. These fractions 

 have been distilled several times in vacuo, and further study of them is 

 reserved. 



From the results thus far obtained, it seems that the series C^Hgn + j 

 is represented in Canadian oil by the same members as are found 

 in Ohio and Pennsylvania oils, but the lower hydrocarbons are 

 present in much smaller proportions. The peculiar properties of 

 Canadian oil depend, at least partially, on the small quantities it con- 

 tains of the hydrocarbons C,jH2„_|_2- The sulphur compounds exert 

 an important influence. The presence of unsaturated hydrocarbons is 

 not yet determined. AVhether other series of bodies characterized by 

 their instability form important constituents of the oil can only be 

 ascertained by a critical study of the portions with high boiling points. 



Aromatic Hydrocarbons. 



Series C^Hon-e- 



Benzol. 



In looking for members of the aromatic series, the same methods 

 were followed as in fractions of the Ohio oil. At the end of the 

 eighth distillation, 20 grams collected at 77°-79°, 15 grams at 79°- 

 81°, and 30 grams at 81°-83°. In treating these fractions, which 

 contain benzol, with nitric acid under the conditions necessary for the 

 formation of uitrobenzol, avoiding loss, so far as possible, and distilling 

 off the unaffected hydrocarbons, the first fraction gave 2.8 per cent of 

 benzol, the second 4.4 per cent, and the thii-d 4.14 per cent. The 

 benzol calculated from these data, in the total weight of the fractions, 

 gave three grams as the total weight in the 64.5 kilos of crude oil 

 taken, equivalent to 0.0047 per cent. Practically all the benzol 

 was collected witliin these limits, since scarcely any nitro product was 

 obtained in the higher and lower fractions. The quantity of benzol in 

 the crude oil is probably somewhat larger than is here represented, 

 although it must be considered as somewhat less than the amount 

 contained in Ohio oil. Some loss undoubtedly resulted from distil- 

 lation in vacuo, as well as in the subsequent separations. The 



