135 
CERTAIN COMBUSTION PRopucTS OF NatuRAL Gas. By P. N. Evans. 
The specimen of material shown was deposited in the course of about 
three months in a galvanized iron pipe over a natural gas burner in 
LaFayette, the total quantity being about 500 grams. When first formed 
the material was waxy in character and accumulated at the lower end of 
the pipe, which was about four feet in height, but on standing for some 
months in a closed bottle it became hard and brittle. 
Its strong, disagreeable, fishy odor made it seem worth examining, 
since it was quite unexpected considering the circumstances of formation, 
resembling trimethylamine, which gives the peculiar odor to herring brine. 
As might be expected, the usual tests showed the presence of zine and 
iron in the ferrous condition. The material is for the most part soluble in 
water, the slight insoluble residue having the appearance of oxide of iron. 
Barium chloride showed the presence of considerable quantities of 
sulphate, and on warming with concentrated sulphuric acid the odor of 
sulphur dioxide was very evident, the evolved gas readily darkening 
paper moistened with mercurous nitrate, but not darkening lead acetate, 
showing the presence of sulphites, but not sulphides; the aqueous extract 
also instantly decolorized a solution of iodine and of iodine and starch. 
That the sulphur dioxide was not derived by reduction from the sulphuric 
acid used was shown by the same reactions when hydrochloric acid was 
substituted. 
None of these constituents—iron, zine, sulphuric and sulphurous acids— 
were unexpected; neither did they account for the odor. The presence of 
nitrogen, however, was a surprise, considering that its only source was 
the free nitrogen of the air and that of the natural gas, which is supposed to 
contain only very small quantities of the element and in the free state. On 
warming the substance with a solution of potassium or sodium hydroxide 
the odor of ammonia was very evident, accompanied by the original fishy 
smell not noticed when warmed with acid. 
To remove all doubt of the formation of ammonia and to learn whether 
it was accompanied by any considerable quantity of any amine, about 15 
vrams of the material were distilled with sodium hydroxide and the steam 
passed into dilute hydrochloric acid. The boiling was continued about 30 
treinutes, and then the distillate was evaporated to dryness. The residue 
in the distilling flask retained its fishy odor unimpaired, while the dis- 
tillate had a very disagreeable odor resembling decaying cabbage. The 
