1824.] Scientific Notices — Chemistry. 71 



composed by acids appears also to be completely analogous 

 with the decomposition of alcohol, in the formation of those 

 compounds to which the name of ether has been already appro- 

 priated. 



Pyroacetic spirit is strikingly distinguished from the pyroxylic 

 in many of its most important characters. Its specific gravity 

 is inferior, being only 0786. Its taste and smell are also differ- 

 ent ; and it burns with an intense white flame, very different from 

 the blue flame of pyroxylic spirit. It is also completely soluble 

 in oil of turpentine. 



Sulphuric acid neither blackens it, nor renders it turbid, but 

 communicates to it a fine orange-yellow colour ; and the mix- 

 ture continues transparent, even after the application of heat. 



When distilled along with muriatic acid, a volatile fluid passes 

 over having the odour of that acid ; but this is completely 

 removed by re-distilling it off* potash. 



A current of chlorine, sent through the pyroacetic spirit, 

 communicates to it a slightly-yellowish shade, but without pre- 

 senting the subsequent phenomenon of a sudden discoloration. 

 The resulting fluid has a suffocating odour, somewhat similar to 

 that of the chloro-pyroxylic ether, but stronger. After a few 

 instants, it separates into two distinct fluids ; the one, thick, 

 heavy, oily, and transparent ; the other, lighter, and slightly 

 opalescent. The latter burns with a light flame, of a bluish 

 colour, and leaves an abundant acid residue. It dissolves in 

 water, and imparts to it a hot taste, followed by a sensation of 

 sweetness ; but it does yield a trace of the horse-radish flavour, 

 which characterises the ether formed by chlorine and the pyr- 

 oxylic spirit. 



The oily fluid, after a few days, acquires a slight yellowish 

 colour, and burns with a thick flame of a deep-green colour, 

 emitting suffocating fumes, which contain abundance of muria- 

 tic acid. It is soluble in alcohol, but insoluble in water. When 

 poured into the latter, it subsides to the bottom in separate 

 drops. 



Both of these spirits were analyzed, by volatilizing a known 

 weight of them through red-hot oxide of copper. The pyroxylic 

 spirit, decomposed in this way, was found to consist of 



Carbon 44-53 



Oxygen 46*3 1 



Hydrogen 9" 1 6 



100-00 



Or very nearly, of 6 atoms of carbon, 4 of oxygen, and 7 of 

 hydrogen. 



The pyroacetic spirit was found to consist of 



