1820.] of. Carbon and Hydrogen, S^c, 45 



bottle and its contents have had their temperature raised a few 

 degrees. After a short time this abundant evolution of vapour 

 ceases, and the remaining portion is comparatively fixed. 



■ The specific gravity of this substance is 0-821. It does not 

 solidify at a temperature of 0° F. It is insoluble, or nearly so, 

 in water; very soluble in alcohol, ether, and volatile and 

 fixed oils. It is neutral to test colours. It is not more soluble 

 in alkahne solutions than in water ; and only a small portion is 

 acted upon by them. Muriatic acid has no action upon it. 

 Nitric acid gradually acts upon it, producing nitrous acid, 

 nitric oxide gas, carbonic, and sometimes hydrocyanic acid, &c. 

 but the action is not violent. Sulphuric acid acts upon it in 

 a very remarkable and peculiar liianner, which I shall have 

 occasion to refer to more particularly presently. 



This fluid is a mixture of various bodies; which, thouo-h 

 they resemble each other in being highly combustible, and 

 throwing off" much smoke when burnt in large flame, may yet 

 by their difference of volatility be separated in part from each 

 other. Some of it drawn from the condenser, after the pressure 

 had been repeatedly raised to 30 atmoi;pheres, and at a time 

 when it was at 28 atmospheres, then introduced rapidly into a 

 stoppered bottle and closed up, was, when brought home, 

 put into a flask and distilled, its temperature being raised by 

 the hand. The vapour which came off; and which caused the 

 appearance of boiling, was passed through a glass tube at 0°, 

 and then conducted to the mercurial trough ; but little uncon- 

 densed vapour came over, not more than thrice the bulk of the 

 hquid; a portion of fluid collected in the cold tube, which 

 boiled and evaporated when the temperature was allowed to 

 rise; and the great bulk of the liquid which remained, might 

 now be raised to a comparatively high point, before it entered 

 into ebullition. 



A thermometer being introduced into another portion of the 

 fluid, heat was applied, so as to keep the temperature just at 

 the boihng point. When the vessel containing it was opened, 

 It began to boil at 60° F. As the more volatile portions were 

 dissipated, the temperature rose : before a tenth part had been 

 thrown ofiT, the temperature was above 100°. The heat con- 

 tmued gradually to rise, and before the substance was all vola- 

 tilized, it had attained 250°. 



With the hope of separating some distinct substances from 

 this evident mixture, a quantity of it was distilled, and the 

 vapours condensed at a temperature of 0"^ into separate por- 

 tions, the receiver being charged with each rise of 10° in the 

 retort, and the liquid retained in a state of incipient ebullition. 

 In this way a succession of products were obtained; but they 

 were by no means constant; for the portions, for instance, 

 which came over when the fluid was boiling from 160° to 170°, 



