212 Intelligence and Miscellaneoua Articles. 



which the formation of sulphovinic acid occurs, the author discovered 

 that it depended on several circumstances, the principal of which are, 

 — 1st, the relative proportions of acid and alcohol ; 2nd, the heat 

 applied to the mixture ; 3rd, the heating of the two liquids at the 

 moment of mixing them ; 4th, the time during which the acid and 

 alcohol remain in contact. To ascertain these points, the author at 

 first emploj'ed monohydrated sulphuric acid SO^, HO, and absolute 

 alcohol C+ H« O'-, or else hydrated C* H^ O'-, HO ; there is no differ- 

 ence in the progress of the reaction, whether absolute or hydrated 

 alcohol he employed. 



To determine the quantity of sulphovinic acid formed, the same 

 quantity of sulphuric acid as that used with the alcohol was mixed 

 with water ; and this last was used in such proportion as to make 

 the diluted acid equal in volume to the mixture of acid and alcohol. 

 Equal portions of these were then saturated with an alkaline solution 

 of known strength, and by the difference the proportion of combined 

 sulphuric acid was determined ; it being ascertained that sulphuric, 

 on becoming sulphovinic acid, saturates one-half less base. 



When equivalents of sulphuric acid and anhydrous alcohol are 

 employed, the following results are obtained : if the alcohol be ren- 

 dered extremelj'^ cold, and the sulphuric acid be gradually added, so 

 as to avoid raising the temperature, no combination whatever takes 

 place. The sulphuric acid retains all its saturating power ; and if it 

 be kept constantly cooled by melting ice, the strength of the acid 

 remains the same for several successive days. A temperature of 50° 

 to 60° F. is sufficient to cause the conversion of 77 parts out of 100 

 of sulphuric acid into sulphovinic ; thus about three-quarters of what 

 the sulphuric acid is capable of yielding are produced ; this propor- 

 tion cannot be exceeded. It remains the same for several months, 

 and it is useless to raise the temperature of the mixture. When 

 equivalents of sulphuric acid and alcohol are used, 77 out of 100 of 

 the acid is the largest proportion that can be formed into sulphovinic 

 acid. This formation requires several days at 50° to 60° F. ; but it 

 occurs in a few hours at 86° to 95° F. ; and it takes place in a few 

 minutes if the mixture be immersed in boiling water ; and it is a 

 remarkable circumstance that the combination is instantaneous, if 

 the alcohol be suddenly poured into the sulphuric acid so as to pro- 

 duce great heat. 



It appears, therefore, that there are in reality, in this formation of 

 sulphovinic acid, three sources of chemical action which are equiva- 

 lents ; they are time, the temperature applied, and the natural heating 

 of the mixture. The action of light was repeatedly attempted to be 

 substituted ; but the direct application of the most intense solar rays 

 never accelerated the formation of sulphovinic acid. 



The mixture of two equivalents of alcohol with one equivalent of 

 sulphuric acid acts exactly in the same manner as the preceding 

 mixture ; only it is more easy to avoid in it the formation of sulpho- 

 vinic acid ; the influence of time and heat is similarly exerted. The 

 sulphuric acid produces a little less sulphovinic acid, from 73 to 74 

 in 100 parts ; the non-action of light is similar. 



