Experiments oit Ether. 391 



Sxperimeiit I. Equal parts of concentrated fulphuric acid and reftified alcohol being 

 mixed together, difengage a quantity of caloric capable of elevating the temperature of the 

 mafs to 70 degrees (190 Fahrenheit). Bubbles of elaRic fluid are formed, the liquor be- 

 comes turbid, affumes an opal colour, and at the end of fcveral days becomes of a deep 

 red colour. 



Experiment II. A combination of two parts of fulphuric acid and one part of alcohol 

 elevates the temperature to 75 degrees (20 : Fahrenheit), becomes immediately of a deep red 

 colour, which changes to black a few days afterwards, and emits a fraell perceptibly ethereal. 



Experiment III. When we carefully obferve what happens in the combination of equal 

 parts of alcohol and concentrated fulphuric acid expofed to the action of caloric in a proper 

 apparatus, the following phenomena are feen: 



1. When the temperature is elevated to 78 degrees (208 Fahrenheit), the fluid boils, and 

 emits a vapour which becomes condenfed by cold into a colourlefs, light and odorant liquor, 

 which, from its properties, has received the name of ether. If the operation be pioperly 

 condufted, no permanent gas is difengaged until about half the alcohol has pafled over in 

 the form of ether. Until this period there pafles abfolutely nothing but ether and a fmall 

 portion of water, without mixture of fulphureous or of carbonic acid. 



2. If the receiver be changed as foon as the fulphureous acid manifefts itfelf, it is ob- 

 ferved that no more ether is formed, but the fweet oil of wine, water, and acetous acid, 

 without the difengagement hitherto of a fingle bubble of carbonic acid gas. When the 

 fulphuric acid conllitutes about four-fifths of the mafs wiiich remains in the retort, an in- 

 flammable gas is difengaged which has the fmell of ether, and burns with a white oily 

 flame. This is what the Dutch chemifts have called carbonated liydrogene gas, or olcfiant 

 gas, becaufe, when mixed with the oxygenated muriatic acid, it forms oil *. At this period 

 the temperature of the fluid contained in the retort is elevated to 88 or 90 degrees (230 

 or 234 of Fahrenheit). 



3. When the fweet oil of wine ceafes to flow, if the receiver be again changed, it is found 

 that nothing more pafles but fulphureous acid, water, carbonic acid gas; and that the refidue 

 in the retort is a black mafs, confifling for the mod part of fulphuric acid thickened by 

 carbone. 



The feries of phenomena here expofed will juftify the following general induclions : 



1. A fmall quantity of ether is formed fpontaneoufly, and without the afhftance of heat 

 by the combination of two parts of concentrated fulphuric acid and one part of alcohol. 



2. As foon as ether is formed, there is a prodndlion of water at the fame time; and while 

 the firft of thefe compoCtions takes phce, the fulphuric acid undergoes no change in its 

 intimate nature. 



3. As foon as the fulphureous acid appears, no more ether is formed, or at lead very 

 little ; but then there pafles the fweet oil of wine, together with water and acetous acid. 



4. The fweet oil of wine having ceafed to come over, notliing further is obtained but the 

 fulphureous and carbonic acids, and at lafl; fulphur, if the diftillation be carried to drynefs. 



The operation of ether is therefore naturally divided into three periods ; the firll, in 

 which a fmall quantity of ether and water arc formed without the affiftance of heat ; the 



* rkilufdpliitiil Jourpal, I. 44. 



fccoiid. 



