Mr, Faraday on neiso Compounds of Carbon and Hydrogen. 15 



very combustible. It had a specific gravity of 27 or 28 as a 

 gas ; as a liquid that of 0-627, being the lightest substance, 

 not a gas or vapour, known. When analysed, it was found 

 to consist of one proportional of carbon 6, and one of hydro- 

 gen 1, as is the case with olefiant gas; but these are so com- 

 bined and condensed, as to occupy only one half the volume 

 they do in that substance. A volume therefore of the gas con- 

 tains four proportionals of carbon 24, and four of hydrogen 

 4 = 28, which is its specific gravity. 



Beside the remarkable difference thus established between 

 this substance and olefiant gas, it is also distinguished by the 

 action of chlorine, which forms with it a fluid body having a 

 sweet taste, and resembling hydro-chloride of carbon ; but 

 from which a chloride of carbon cannot be obtained by the 

 fux'ther action of chlorine and light. 



The other products from the original fluid do not present 

 any characters so definite as the above substances ; at the same 

 time they appear to be very constant, boiling uniformly at one 

 temperature. They cannot be separated by distillation into 

 more and less volatile parts, so as to afford means of reducing 

 their number to two or three particular bodies. They have 

 the general properties of the original fluid, and, with the other 

 products, are all peculiarly acted upon by sulphuric acid, of- 

 fering phaenomena, in the investigation of which the author is 

 at present engaged. 



With reference to the presence of these substances in the 

 state of vapour in oil and coal gas, the means of ascertaining 

 it, and the quantity, are pointed out, in the peculiar action of 

 sulphuric acid, causing their perfect condensation, and in the 

 solvent powers over them possessed by fixed and volatile oils, 

 &c., the requisite precautions for their proper application be- 

 ing described. Oil gas was found to be saturated with many 

 of these vapours. Coal gas also contained a portion of them. 



The paper concluded with a short reference to the probable 

 uses of the fluid, as originally obtained. If put into gas burn- 

 ing with a blue flame, it makes it produce a bright white flame. 

 It is an excellent solvent of caoutchouc : it will answer all the 

 purposes to which essential oils are apf)lied as solvents ; and, 

 having applied that portion of it, which though at common tem- 

 peratures a liquid at a pressure of 2 or 3 atmospheres, is a gas 

 under any diminished pressure, as fuel to a lamp ; the author 

 lias shown the possibility of such an application, if at any time 

 such knowledge and command of the decomposition of oil or 

 coal by heat should be obtained, as would enable us to furnish 

 the substance in abundance. — Journal ff Science. 



K 2 MR. 



