Action of Sulphuric Acid on Alcohol. 267 
Art. X.—A memoir on the Action of Sulphuric Acid on Alz 
cohol, and the products which result fromit. Read before 
the French Academy; by M. Servtuas, on the 15th and 
22d of September, 1828. 
Translated and abridged by Prof. Griscom, 
Iv this valuable memoir, the author states that the sub- 
stance called sweet oil of wine, results from the decomposi- 
tion of the yellow liquid formed of sulphuric acid and car- 
buretted hydrogen: a decomposition produced either by its 
prolonged contact with the colorless liquid which distils with 
it, or by the operations to which it is subjected in order to 
separate and depurate it. 
. Serullas calls this substance neutral sulphate of carbu- 
retted hydrogen, or, sulphate of ether. Although it has been 
seen and handled by all those who have prepared sulphuric 
ether, it is no less true, that its real nature remains unknown, 
To obtain it pure the author directs that a mixture of 2! parts 
of sulphuric acid and | part of alcohol at 36 should be dis- 
tilled as for the preparation of ether. After a little ether has 
come over, the oily liquid, more or less yellow, will make its 
appearance, sometimes sinking below and at others floating 
above another colorless liquid which comes over at the same 
time. In the former case, it is mixed with more sulphurous 
acid and less ether than the colorless liquor, and in the latter, 
the acid is mingled in greater quantity with the colorless 
liquid. 
and transparent, but the vacuum must be continued in order 
to free it from water. In the course of twenty four hours 
the sulphate of carbonated hydrogen is of a beautiful deep 
green, after having passed through the successive shades of 
clear green, bluish green and emerald blue. 
