Treparation of 'Ether by the Mur'mtic Ac'iJ. 53 



pafflige of the alcohol from one bottle to another, and even 

 its elevation to fome centimetres above its level, is neceflarily 

 the effe<3: of a confiderablc degree of compreffion experienced 

 by the gas, and which re-a<Sls, or is tranfmitted by the latter 

 to the liquid ; for, even by applying to the explanation of the 

 phenomena of a liquid in motion the general principle of 

 mechanics, that the mafles and velocities are inverfelv pro- 

 portional, it is neverthelefs true, that at reft the force which 

 raifes and maintains a liquid above its level, cannot be infe- 

 rior to the weight of a mafs of that liquid having for height 

 its elevation in the tube, and for bafe the internal dia- 

 meter of the bottle ; or, to make ufe of common language, 

 having for bulk its elevation multiplied by its diameter: but 

 a comprefling force, to be excrcifed by the gas, ought to be 

 experienced by itj and this compreffion, by concentrating its 

 parts, difpofes it to diflblve in the alcohol. I have indulged 

 in this fliort digreffion, which may appear foreign to my 

 object, on account of its numerous applications in the prac- 

 tice of the chemiltry of gafes. 



When the whole muriatic acid has pafTed, the liquors in 

 the different bottles are to be united, and poured into the re- 

 tort, after firft taking out the fait. It forms a muriatic al- 

 cohol exceedingly concentrated. You muft add in the retort 

 o*20 of the oxyd of manganefe in very fine powder j and 

 put into the recipient, and the tvi-o bottles, a certain quan- 

 tity of a folution of cauftic potafli. You then dirtil at a 

 gentle heat, conducted with care. It is here feen that the 

 alkaline liquor ferves to enchain the oxygenated acid which 

 is in excefs at the formation of the ether, and that it pre- 

 vents the aftion which olefies this liquid. It is chiefly in 

 this pra£tice that the part of my method which prcferves the 

 ether confifis. 



Notwithftanding this precaution, it is not poffible, how- 

 ever, to prevent a greater or lefs portion of the ether from 

 being decompofed by the acid, which muft traverfe that 

 liquid to reach the alkaline liquor: befides, the oxygenated 

 muriatic acid united to the alkali, continues no lefs to a.St as 

 an oxygenating fubftance in its ilatc of muriat; for, pro- 

 perl/. 



