1814.] Alcohol, and Sulphuric Ether. 37 



different products. It did not contain a notable quantity of carbonic 

 acid, at least the proportion of this gas did not exceed -g^th, and 

 I neglected it. 



The volume of oxycarbureted hydrogen gas reduced to extreme 

 dryness, at the temperature of 32°, and when the barometer stands 

 at 29*922 inches, would be 77 '924 litres (4744*7 cubic inches). It 

 now weighed only 59*069 grammes (912-3 grains) in consequence 

 of the subtraction of 1*181 gramme (18*2 grains) of water, which 

 ought to be added to the 16*59 grammes (256*2 grains) of water 

 obtained as the third product. 



3. Analysis of the Oxycarbureted Hydrogen Gas obtained from the 

 Deco?npositio7i of Alcohol in a red-hot Porcelain Tube. 



The cubic decimetre (61-028 cubic inches), at the temperature 

 of 32°, and when the barometer stands at 29*922 inches, weighed 

 at a medium 0*75804 gramme (11*707 grains). This weight during 

 the course of the experiment underwent alterations which did not 

 exceed a centigramme (0*1544 grain). They did not depend, as I 

 had at first suspected, on the accumulation of charcoal in the tube, 

 but upon the degree of heat to which the gas had been exposed. 

 When the distillation became more rapid, and the porcelain tube 

 less hot, more oil was obtained, and a heavier gas, containing a 

 greater proportion of carbon. From a mean of all these products, 

 it follows that 100 measures of the gas decomposed by detonation 

 with 300 measures of oxygen gas over mercury,* consumed 121*95 

 measures of oxygen gas, forming at the same time SI* 15 measures 

 of carbonic acid gas. It contained no azotic gas.f 



It results from these data that 100 parts by weight of this oxy- 

 carbureted hydrogen gas, supposing it perfectly dry, are composed 

 of 



Carbon 57*571 



Oxygen 28*466 



Hydrogen 13*960 



100000 



These products contain 10*189 parts of hydrogen, besides the 

 elements of 32*237 parts of water. 

 The gas which I have analysed has this remarkable property : the 



• In inv former experiments this gas, as well as that obtained from ether, was 

 decomposed over mercury. 



+ Not to be deceived respecting the presence or absence of azotic gas in oxy- 

 carbureted hydrogen, we must analyse it before it has stood any length of time 

 over water; because, that liquid gives out to il the air which it contains. Alcohol 

 does not contain a perceptible quantity of azote. I have found by experiments 

 with the apparatus of Meuniei to collect the liquid formed when it burns in the 

 epeo air, lhat the water formed by the combustion of alcohol and sulphuric ether 

 < i, tain, in lolatlen a lemible quantity of immoniacal salts, but ii not » Itbstanding 



almost pure! but 1 lia\c I'onml that pure hydrogen, and nil hydrogenous gob 



itancet, though free from azote, furnish in these circumstance* either ammonia or 



nitric at i<l, or these two substances united, and that the azotic gas of ihe air dis- 

 appears at the tame lime. 



