1826.] On new Compounds of Carbon and Hydrogen, 8cc. 95 



Article V. 



On nero Compounds of Carbon and Hydrogen, and on certain 

 other Products obtained during the Decomposition of Oil by 

 Heat. By M. Faraday, F.R.S". Cor. Mem. Royal Academy 

 of Sciences of Paris, &,c. 



(^Concluded from p. 50.) 



Among the liquid products obtained from the original fluid 

 was one which, procured as before mentioned, by submitting to 

 C the portion distilling over at 180° or 190°, corresponded with 

 the substance already described, as to boiling points, but 

 differed from it in remaining fluid at low temperatures ; and I 

 was desirous of comparing the two together. I had no means 

 of separating this body from the bi-carburet of hydrogen, of 

 which it would of course be a saturated solution at 0°. Its 

 boihng point was very constantly 186°. In its general charac- 

 ters of solubility, combustibility, action of potassium, &c. it 

 agreed with the substance already described. Its specific gra- 

 vity was 0-86 at 60°. When raised in vapour Ml grain of it 

 gave 1-573 cubic inches of vapour at 212°, equal to 1*212 cubic 

 inch at 60°. Hence 100 cubic inches would weigh about 91-6 

 grains, and its specific gravity would be 43-25 nearly. In 

 another experiment, 1-72 grain gave 2-4 cubic inches at 212°, 

 equal to 1-849 cubic inch at 60° ; from which the weight of 100 

 cubic inches would be deduced as 93 grains ; and its specific 

 gravity to hydrogen as 44 to I . Hence probably the reason 

 why, experimentally, the specific gravity of bi-carburet of 

 hydrogen in vapour was found higher, than by theory it would 

 appear to be when pure. 



Sulphuric acid acted much more powerfully upon this sub- 

 stance than upon the bi-carburet : great heat was evolved, much 

 discolouration occasioned, and a separation took place into a 

 thick black acid, and a yellow lighter liquid, resisting any 

 further action at common temperatures. 



61 grain of this substance was passed over heated oxide of 

 copper; 4-51 cubic inches of carbonic acid gas were obtained, 

 and 0-6 grain of water. The carbonic acid and water are equi- 

 valent to 



Carbon 0-573176 or 8-764 



Hydrogen 066666 1- 



but as the substance must have contained much bi-carburet of 

 hydrogen, it is evident that, if in a pure state, the carbon would 

 fail far short of the above quantity, and the compound would 

 approximate of course to a simple carburet of hydrogen contain- 

 ing bingle proportionals. 



