42 On the Composition of [July, 



metre (61*028 cubic inches) weighed 0-81196 gramme (12-54 grs.) 

 at the same temperature and pressure, and in the same degree of 

 dryness as the preceding: 100 measures of it consumed 143-32 

 measures of oxygen gas, and formed 93' 15 measures of carbonic 

 acid gas. Hence it follows that 100 parts by weight of this gas 

 are composed of the following constituents : — 



Carbon 6 170 



Oxygen 23-49 



Hydrogen 1481 



100-00 



In these products we find an excess of 11*7 hydrogen above the 

 26-6 parts of water reduced to its elements. 



This gas, notwithstanding its variation in its specific gravity, has 

 this property in common with alcohol and with the oxycarbureted 

 hydrogen obtained by the decomposition of alcohol, that the oxijgen 

 consumed is to the carbonic acid produced as three to two. It follows 

 that the oxycarbureted hydrogen gas from ether is represented, as 

 in all the preceding analyses, by defiant gas and water. The oxy- 

 carbureted hydrogen from alcohol is represented by 2 defiant and 

 nearly I water, or by 100 olefiant gas and 47'6 water. 



The oxycarbureted hydrogen from ether is represented by 3 

 olefiant gas and 1 water in weight. 



8. Analysis of Sulphuric Ether by the Detonation of its elastic 

 Vapour with Oxygen Gas. 



In my first experiments on the composition of ether I analysed it 

 by saturating oxygen gas with the vapour of ether. The super- 

 abundant liquid was removed by filtering paper, the increase of bulk 

 was determined, and the whole was detonated, after the addition 

 of a farther portion of oxygen gas. The first operations were inde- 

 pendent of each other, and they required the same temperature and 

 pressure, which could not be ascertained in a satisfactory manner. 

 When I absorbed the liquid ether by means of filtering paper I was 

 not aware that any of the ether in the state of vapour was condensed; 

 but new experiments on the absorption of gases by porous bodies 

 have shown me that this is the case, though in other respects paper 

 has no action on ether. 



1 follow at present a simpler process, and one which is much more 

 accurate. It is sufficient, 1. To weigh in a small phial with a wide 

 mouth, and shut with a glass stopper, a quantity of ether much less 

 than what is sufficient to saturate the oxygen gas, which ought to 

 stand over mercury in a tall narrow glass jar. 2. To open the phial 

 under mercury, and introduce it into the receiver. 3. To measure 

 the volume of the gas after the solution of the ether in the oxygen. 

 We thus obtain an etherial gas which does not contain liquid ether, 

 and which may be analysed with accuracy, as we know the propor- 

 tion of oxygen and ether gas which it contains. 



