Preparation of Ether ty the Muriatic Acid. 51 



the fame liquid. This olefication of ether is a natural effea 

 of the oxygenating aftion of the acid, when care has not been 

 taken to flop this operation immediately after the ether is 

 formed. A like aftion is exercifcd by the air of the atmo- 

 fphere on natural oils. 



The oxygenated muriatic acid, which pafles at the fame 

 tune as the ether, continues to aft on that liquid, and makes 

 It undergo a modification of compofition that brings it to the 

 ftate of oil, to which it had before nearly approached. This 

 efTeft, as I have faid, takes place when the ether is left for 

 fome time mixed with the acid it has carried along with it, 

 or when it is reftified without feparating it from that acid. 

 It may readily be conjeftured, that the continuation of the 

 fame labour ought to make the liquid oil pafs to the ftate of 

 thick oil, and that it would bring the latter to the ftate of 

 greafe, and, confequently, to that of wax. The fame thing 

 takes place with the defying gas of the Dutch chemifts, 

 which from ethereous gas transforms itfe'f, by the re-aftion 

 of the oxygenated muriatic acid gas on the ftate of the com- 

 bination of its principles, into an oil, firft liquid and float- 

 mg on the water, but which afterwards becomes infpiffated 

 to olefication when you add only a few bubbles of the latter 

 gas in excefs. When this excefs of oxygenated gas was con- 

 fiderable, I have often feen the ethereous oil converted into a 

 real white greafe, opake, and of the confiftence of half melted 

 tallow. 1 informed the public, more than ten years ago, 

 that the oxygenated muriatic acid gas, kept over oil oi col/at 

 (colcfeed), converted it into a waxy matter, taking from 

 it its fmell and colour, and rendering it perfeftly white. 

 All thefe cfte£ls depend on withdrawing a portion of the 

 hydrogen ; fo that ether is oil, plus a certain portion of 

 hydrogen; oil is greafe, plus that proportion, &c. Ether 

 made by the fulphuric acid undergoes, but more (lowly, the 

 fame transformation into oil, in the like manner as that 

 made, by the nitric acid, which experiences this chano-e al- 

 moft as fpeedily as muriatic ether does. Nothing is fo eafy 

 to be Conceived as the de-hydrogenation, at all temperatures, . 

 effefted by condcnfed oxygen. 



Thofc who have obferved this ready olefication of marine 

 H 2 elher 



