266 On the Gaseous Combinations of 
This is a clear proof that the gas contains no oxygen. . 
The carbon and hydrogen which we have found it to con- 
tain constitute the whole of its weight... The small excess 
would nearly vanish, if we were to suppose the specific 
gravity of the gas to be 0'600, as Dalton found it. 11 is 
obviously owing to errors in the analysis, which are un- 
avoidable when minute quantities of gaseous bodies are 
measured. : 
10. We may conelnde, then, that the gas from stagnant 
water is entitled to the name of carbureted hydrogen, and 
that it is a compound of very nearly, Lacie 
OF oe er ee ee Qe 
PAPEL ED iyo mbox, connotea nee 
: 100 
Mr. Dalton considers it as composed of an atom of car- 
‘bon, and two atoms of hydrogen; and this very nearly 
agrees with the above analysis, if we suppose an atom of 
carbon to weigh 4°5, and an atom of bydrogen to weigh 1 ; 
for 72 is to 28 very nearly as 45 to 2, 
There is another gas which is at present considered as” 
composed of carbon and hydrogen. It was discovered by 
the associated Dutch chemists, and called by them olefiant 
' gas, in consequence of the oily-locking substance into 
which it is converted when mixed with oxymuriatic acid 
gas. The experiments of Cruickshanks, Henry, Dalton, 
aid Berthollet, all coincide to show that its only consti- 
tuents are carbon and hydrogen. Mr. Murray, however, 
an his System of Chemistry, has expressed his suspicion 
that oxygen is also one of its constituents. _He founds his 
conjecture on the alleged formation of carbonic acid gas 
when olefiant gas is passed through a red-rot tube. Even 
if carbonic acid were formed in this case, it would not 
prove the gas to contain oxygen, unless the experiment be 
made in such a manner as that all common air is completely 
excluded; and practical chemists are sufficiently aware of 
the difficulty of such an exclusion, when the experiment 
is made in the usual way. Carbonic acid gas never makes 
its appearance, if the whole common air be previously re-" 
moved from the tube by means of a current of hydrogen, 
_ and if care be taken to separate all the oxygen with which 
the olefiant gas may be mixed, by means.of nitrous gas. 
It is proper to know that liquid salphuret of lime has the 
property of dissolving olefiant gas in considerable quantity. 
It cannot, therefore, be used to free the gas from oxygen. 
Though the well-earned celebrity of the chemists who 
‘ ve eve 
