78 Scientific Notices — Chemistry. [July, 



every proportion, and the addition of water renders the solution 

 opalescent, and the spirit gradually ascends to the surface. 

 Water alone converts the spirit into a semi-opaque fluid, resem- 

 bling an emulsion, which persists for an indefinite length of time 

 in this state, without a separation of the two fluids taking place, 

 and without becoming transparent. It is equally insoluble in oil 

 of turpentine. Camphor dissolves in it with great facility. 

 Olive oil does not dissolve in it, either when cold or hot. Potash 

 dissolves in it without producing any sensible alteration, except 

 causing it to assume a yellowish tinge, and producing a slight 

 elevation of temperature. 



Pyroxylic spirit, when mixed with its volume of sulphuric 

 acid, may be distilled over unaltered ; but if thrice that quantity 

 of acid be employed, it blackens, and is decomposed, and a 

 small quantity of a gas is evolved, which is a mixture of hydru- 

 ret of carbon and hydrogen. The gas contains no defiant gas ; 

 for it burns with a feeble blue-coloured flame, and sustains no 

 speedy diminution of volume when mixed with chlorine. 



When distilled with its volume of nitric acid, there passes 

 over an ethereal fluid, together with a considerable quantity of 

 nitrous vapours. This new fluid has an agreeable odour, reddens 

 litmus paper even after having been distilled off litharge, burns 

 with a dull heavy flame, and dissolves in all proportions in 

 water and alcohol, communicating to them a sweet taste, like 

 that of sugar. It differs, therefore, in all its properties from 

 nitric ether. 



The spirit is not altered by being exposed to a current of 

 nitrous gas ; neither does it yield an ether when repeatedly dis- 

 tilled with its volume of muriatic acid. 



A current of chlorine sent through a quantity of the spirit, at 

 first imparts to it a deep-yellow colour ; but after the process 

 has gone on for a few minutes, the liquid suddenly becomes 

 again colourless. By this treatment, its volume augments one- 

 twelfth. The new fluid thus obtained is colourless and trans- 

 parent, and smokes with ammonia. It has a peculiar and very 

 pungent smell, and excites tears. Its taste is hot, leaving an 

 impression exactly similar to that of horse-radish. After distil- 

 lation off" litharge, its specific gravity is 0*889. It burns with a 

 blue flame and a white smoke, which gives thick vapours with 

 ammonia. Water and alcohol dissolve it. It is precipitated by 

 nitrate of silver ; and it becomes more acid, and acquires a slight 

 yellowish tinge by exposure for some time to the air and light ; 

 but by distillation off a little litharge, it may be restored to its 

 original purity. 



These two liquids, formed by the action of nitric acid and 

 chlorine, appear, therefore, to be ethers, endowed with peculiar 

 properties ; and the mode in which the pyroxylic spirit is de- 



