Alcohol and its Compounds. 39 



and peculiar. When its vapour is respired the power of 

 breathing the air for some seconds is lost. It mixes in all 

 proportions with water. It inflames readily. When mixed 

 with spongy platinum, acetic acid is formed. It dissolves 

 sulphur, phosphorus, and iodine, but without altering them, 

 chlorine and Bromine are converted into muriatic and 

 hydro-bromic acids. With nitric acid, acetic acid is formed; 

 with potash a reddish-brown resin is formed, which Liebig 

 designates by the awkward name of Aldehydharz. When 

 aldehyde is heated with water and oxide of silver, the latter 

 is reduced, and covers the inside of the tube with a metallic 

 coat. Aldehyde consists of 



Carbon . . . 55-024 

 Oxygen . . . 35-993 

 Hydrogen . . 8-983 

 The density of its vapour is, by experiment, 1-532, which 

 corresponds with 



2 vols, vapour of carbon . . -8333 = 1*5 



2 „ hydrogen . -1388 = -25 



I ,, oxygen . . -5555 = 1" 



1-5276 2-75 

 Liebig gives its formula C 4 H 8 O. 



Ammonialdehyde crystallizes in acute rhombohedrons. 

 The crystals are colourless, possess a hardness equal to sugar, 

 and a smell like that of ammonia and turpentine; they 

 are volatile ; inflammable ; melt between 158° and 176°. 

 They have an alkaline re-action ; they dissolve readily in 

 water, with greater difficulty in alcohol, and with difficulty 

 in ether. With the acids and alkalies they act like aldehyde 

 and consist of Carbon . . . 39-700 



Oxygen . . . 25-969 

 Azote. . . . 22-987 

 Hydrogen . . 11-342 



100-000 

 Tins is equivalent to 



1 atom aldehyde, C- H 2 O = 2'75 

 1 atom ammonia N H 3 = 2-125 



1 atom ammonialdehyde . 4-875 



Inflammable Gas. — The gas which comes over with aide- 



