S3 On the Composition of [July, 



volume of oxygen which it require* for its complete combustion is to 

 ik: j volume of car Ionic acid gas produced as three to two. 



The weight of hydrogen in excess above the elements of the 

 water is to the weight of the charcoal as 1 : 5-65. 



defiant gas (called at present percarbitr'eled hydrogen) contains 

 no oxygen : but with respect to the hydrogen and carbon which it 

 contains, it follows the same law as the oxycarbureted hydrogen, 

 when in this last gas we consider only the oxygen in excess above 

 the elements of water.* 



The carbonic acid is to the oxygen gas consumed as two to three, . 

 100 parts of this gas consume in volume 300 of oxygen, and form 

 200 of carbonic acid gas. The weight of the cubic decimetre 

 (6P028 inches) of oletiant gas being 1'2(>49 grammes (19535 

 grains) at the temperature of 32°, and when the barometer stands 

 at 29-922 inches. + It follows from this that 100 parts by weight of 

 olefiant gas are composed of 



Carbon 85-03 



Hydrogen 14-97 



100-001 



The hydrogen is to the carbon as 1 : 5-GS ; as is the case in the 

 oxycarbureted hydrogen just analysed, when we consider only the 

 hydrogen in excess above the elements of the water. 



It is evident from the comparison of these two gases that the 

 oxycarbureted hydrogen from alcohol is merely olefiant gas and 

 •water reduced to their elements ; for if in the analysis of the oxy- 

 carbureted hydrogen we add to the 57*574 parts of carbon the 

 10-189 parts of hydrogen which are in excess above the elements 

 of the water, we have a compound of 6'7'763 parts which is con- 

 stituted like olefiant gas, while the 32-23/ parts that remain are 

 constituted like water. Thus the oxycarbureted hydrogen obtained 

 from alcohol by a red-hot tube is represented by 100 olefiant gas 

 and 47 "6 water; or, in other terms, by the principles of olefiant 

 gas, and about half their weight of water reduced to its elements. 



4. application of the preceding Results to the Analysis of the 



yilcoliol of Richter. 



If we resume the products of the decomposition of alcohol by 



* Olefiant gas is composed of an atom of hydrogen weighing 0132, and an 

 atom of carbon weighing 0-751. Now 1 : 565 :: 0-132 : 0746; so that the esti- 

 mate of Saussuredoes not deviate much from the truth.— T. 



f Olefiant gas, according to (he way in which it is prepared, may have a 

 specific gravity differing a little from that given here ; but in that case 100 mea- 

 sures d not ( onsume exactly 300 of oxygen, and form 200 of carbonic acid gas. 

 Hence Icon idee it as doubtful wliethcr'in such cases it be pure olefiant gas. The 

 loyment of those numbers, which arc within the limits of observations, is 

 justified i. [be consideration that gases combine in volumes which have a simple 

 ratio to each otiier. 



J I consider this gjs as composed of 85-05 carbon + U95 hydrogen, which 

 almost exactly agrees with the statement of Saussure.— T. 



