J 2 Experiment J ami Obftrvat'uns on tht Olffiant Gas 



thefc lad gafes. It is performed by diftillitig ether and alcohol through a tube of ignited 

 glafs, the extremity cf which is received under an inverted gl.!^^ filled with \^'ater. The 

 gas formed in this manner precipitates neither oil nor charcoal by the coiitadt of the oxi- 

 genated muriatic acid. During its formation, part of the ether or alcohol pafTcs unchanged. 

 The chara£teri(lic properties of the gas obtained from ether by this proccfs arc (hewn 

 in the nineteenth paragraph. Its weight, compared with that of air, is as 0.709 to 1. 000. 

 The fmell of ether, which is perceptible in the firft portions, is foon fucceeded by a fetid 

 fmell. It burns with a compact oily flame, like the former gas ; water neither dillblves nor 

 alters it ; it does not render lime-water turbid ; and it is unalter.ible by acids or alkalis. 

 The oxigenated muriatic acid reduces its volume J th. It burns with a blue flame, and 

 affords no trace of oil. 



The refearches which form the objeft of the twentieth paragraph fiicw the prefence 

 of, I. Hydrogene, by the formation of fulphurated hydrogenous gas, wliich is produced 

 when it pafles over fufed fulphur. 2. Carbone, by the black precipitate it atFords by 

 burning, after mixture with the oxigenated muriatic acid gas, as well as by the carbonic 

 acid which refults from its combination with vital air. The autliors of the memoir, to 

 diftinguifli this gas from the former, call it carhcnated hydrogenous gas obiniiieilfnm ether. 



The gas which is afforded by alcohol diRilled through an ignited glafs tube, forms 

 the fubjeft of the twenty-firft paragraph, and differs from the foregoing in two pro- 

 perties : — I. By its fpecific gr.iviry, which is to that of air as 0.436 to i.ooo. 2. By its 

 paler and lefs oily flame, which refembles that of alcohol. This is named by the Dutch 

 chemifls, enrbonated hydrogenous gas obtained front alcohol. 



As the analyfis of thefe three fpecies of gas prefented to their notice the fame principles in 

 their compofition, and as they did not appear to them to differ but in the mere propor- 

 tion of thefe principles, they have in their twenty-fecond paragraph united the refults of 

 their experiments in this behalf. Though they were not entirely fatisfaiflory, tliey were never- 

 thelefs fufliciently clear to enable them to deduce an ufeful conclufion. In order to arrive 

 at a knowledge of this proportion of the principles in the three kinds of gas they had to 

 compare, they mixed each of ihem in tubes of glafs clofed at one end, or long glafs veffels, 

 over mercury, with a larger quantity of oxigcnous gas tlian was fufficieiit for their com- 

 plete combuftion. Thefe mixtures were fet on fire by the eleftric fpark ; the diminution 

 was carefully determined. The proportion of carbonic acid formed was eflimated from the 

 quantity of precipitate thrown down from lime-water introduced over mercury. The 

 refult of their trials on iliis point was, that thefe gafcs contained from 80 to 74 parts of 

 carbone, with from 20 to 26 of hydrogene. In general the three gafes exhibited little 

 difference between each. The carbon.'.rcd oily hydrogenous gas prefented the largeft 

 proportion of carbone ; the carbonateil 'lydrogeni u-; gr.s from ether, a medium proportion 

 of this principle ; and the carbonated hydrogenous gas from alcohol, the leaft of the three. 



The twer.ty-tliird paragraph of tlic memoir, abridged by Jlr. F. contains a retrofpeft of 

 the principal f.ifba exhibited in the whole treatifc. This retrofpe£l is fo well drawn up, 

 and pTcfents a view of the whole with fo much accuracy and condcnfation, that he has 

 preferred the method of quotation without abridgment. 



" Here then," fay the Dutch chemifts, " are three kinds of inflammable gas obtained 

 from alcohol and ether treated in different manners. 



" Thefe 



