JOURNAL 



OF 



NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, CHEMISTRY, 



AND 



THE ARTS. 



MAY 1797. 



ARTICLE r. 



ExtraB of a Memoir concerning three different Species of Carbonated Hydrogenous Gas, obtained 

 from Ether and Alcohol by different Proceffes, forwarded to the National InJJittite of France by 

 the Society of Dutch Chemijls ; being Part of a Report read to the Firjl Clafs of the Iiijlitute, bj 

 Citizen FoVRCRor, at the Sittingof the ibth Frimaire-, l6th December 1796. 



[Concluded from the laft Number.] 



X HE fourth paragraph treats of the choice and purification of the gas. At the commence- 

 ment and towards the end of the operation, it is mixed with fulphureous acid gas ; towards 

 the middle it is purer, and contains only one fixth of fulphureous acid ; when wafhed with 

 water and ammoniac, it is rendered very pure. It does not contain carbonic acid gas. 



The fifth paragraph exhibits the phyfical properties of this gas. Its weight compared 

 with that of common air, is as 909 to 1000 ; its odour is fetid, when well purged from 

 ether and fulphureous acid. It burns with a flrong compaft flame finiihr to that of a re- 

 finous oil. 



The fixth paragraph enumerates feveral properties in fome meafure negative and 

 charafteriftic of this gas. VVhen left for feveral months over water, it fuffers no al- 

 teration. The fulphuric, fulphureous, nitric and muriatic acids do not aft upon it ; 

 neither does the nitrous gas, nor alkalis. Ammoniac in the elaflic flate adds merely 

 to its volume, without occaficning any change. Phofphorus lieated even to fuGon did not 

 affea it. 



In the fevcnth paragraph the authors defcrlbc the aftlon of oxigenated muriatic acid gas 

 upon their newly difcovercd gas. As this is the only fubilunce which a£ls in any remarkable 

 manner upon it, their dcfcrlption is very accurate and full. They announce with reafon this 

 elTca as no Icfs curious than new and hitherto unknown. 'I hey at firft .applied the oxige- 

 nated muriatic acid, with the intention of proving the prefcncc of carbonc in this gas j bccaufe 



Vol. I.— May 1797. II «•'<: 



