Improvements in Science. 301 



Chlorine, . . . 71-32 

 Carbon, .... 24-65 

 Hydrogen, . . . 4*03 



100-00 



Its specific gravity he found 1-256. Its boiling point 180°5. 

 The density of its vapour was 3-45 by experiment. 



VIII. New ether. — When a solution of caustic potash in 

 alcohol is agitated in the Dutch liquor, white crystals are 

 formed, and if after digestion for some hours, the hand is 

 applied to the vessel in which the mixture is contained, 

 bubbles are disengaged which burn with a yellow flame, 

 with green edges resembling hydro-chloric ether. It is 

 composed of 



Chlorine, . . . 57-08 

 Carbon, .... 38-09 

 Hydrogen, . . . 4-83 



10000 



Regnault conceives that the Dutch liquor being a com- 

 pound of one atom of each of its three elements is composed 

 of this new ether and muriatic acid. The new ether liquifies 

 at about — 17 C( + l° F.) It possesses an odour like garlic, 

 and is destroyed by the electric spark. When heated with 

 potassium, carbon is deposited and a white vapour forms, 

 which is probably naphthaline. — (Ann. de Chim., lviii. 301 .) 



IX. Action of Diatase. — Diatase prepared iu the manner 

 already described {Records, vol. i. p. 196.) possesses the 

 following properties as determined by Guerin. 1st. One 

 part of diatase dissolved in 32 of water and mixed with 

 4-08 starch produced no change in 63 days. 2d. The three 

 parts of starch added to two of diatase do not increase in 

 size at a temperature below 129°, at which water causes 

 it to burst. 3d. Diatase liquifies and converts into sugar, 

 starch previously made into a paste without any absorption 

 or disengagement of gas, both in air and in vacuo. 4th. 

 100 parts of starch converted into paste with 3900 parts 

 of water, treated with 6-13 parts of diatase dissolved in 40 

 parts of cold water, and kept during an hour between the 

 temperatures of 140° and 149°, gave 86-91 parts of sugar. 

 5th. A paste of 100 starch and 1393 water brought in con- 



