398 NAPHTHA, NATIVE 



the portion capable of being safely used in lamps is represented by the hydrocarbons 

 C'H. 16 and C 12 H 2S . The higher series of the marsh-gas group, which are composed 

 according to the formulae C 20 H <2 and 'C"H 58 , exhibit a butter-like consistency and 

 belong to the paraffins met with in petroleums. Rangoon oil assumes at ordinary 

 temperatures the consistency of butter. 



Messrs. Warren De La Rue and Hugo Miiller find the fluid to consist of two principal 

 series of hydrocarbons, namely, the benzole class and another, unacted upon by acids, 

 and apparently consisting of the radicals of the alcohol. In addition to the fluid 

 hydrocarbons, Bufmese'naphtha contains a c6nsiderable quantity of paraffin. 



Burmese naphtha or Rangoon tar is obtained by sinking wells about 60 feet deep 

 in the soil ; the fluid gradually oozes in from the soil, and is removed as soon as the 

 quantity accumulated is sufficient. The crude substance is soft, about the consistence 

 of goose grease, with a greenish brown colour, and a peculiar but by no means dis- 

 agreeable odour. It contains only 4 per cent, of fixed matters. In the distillations 

 De La Rue and Miiller employed superheated steam for the higher, and ordinary 

 steam for the lower temperatures. At a temperature of 212, 11 percent, of fluid 

 hydrocarbons distil over ; they are entirely free from paraffin. Between 230 and 

 293 Fahr., 10 per cent, more fluid distils, containing, however, a very small quantity 

 of paraffin. Between the last-named temperature and 320 Fahr., the distillate is 

 very small in quantity, but from that to the fusing point of lead, 20 per cent, more is 

 obtained. The latter, although containing an appreciable amount of paraffin, remains 

 fluid at 32 Fahr. At this epoch of the distillation, the products begin to solidify on 

 cooling, and 31 per cent, of substance is obtained of sufficient consistency to be sub- 

 mitted to pressure. On raising the heat considerably, 21 per cent, of fluids and 

 paraffin distil over. In the last stage of the operation, 3 per cent of pitch-like 

 matters are obtained. The residue in the still consisting of coke containing a little 

 earthy matter, amounts to 4 per cent. We thus have as the products in this very 

 carefully-conducted and instructive distillation : 



Below 212 . . . . . Free from paraffin ... . 11-0 



230 to 293 A little paraffin lO'O 



293 to 320 



320 to fusing point of lead . . Containing paraffin, but still fluid at 



320 20-0 



At about the fusing point of lead . Sufficiently solid to be submitted to pres- 

 sure 31-0 



Beyond fusing point of lead . . Quantity of paraffin diminishes . . 2 TO 



Last distilled Pitchy matters 3-0 



Residue in still .... Coke containing a little earthy impurity . 4-0 



100-0 



All the above distillates are lighter than water. Almost all the paraffin may bo 

 extracted from the distillates by exposing them to a freezing mixture. In this manner 

 no less than between 10 and 11 per cent, of this valuable solid hydrocarbon may be 

 obtained from Burmese naphtha. 



Naphtha appearing closely to resemble the above is found at Alfreton, Amiano 

 (Duchy of Parma), Baku (borders of the Caspian), Barbadoes, Clermont (France), 

 Gobian, near Bezieres (France), Galicia, Neufchatel (Switzerland), Tegernseo (Bavaria), 

 Trinidad, United States, Val di Noto in Sicily, Wallachia, Zante, St. Zibio (Modena), 

 Sehndee near Hanover, near Hamburg, Kleinschoppenstadt, Brunswick, in the Pyrenees 

 and other portions of Spain and France. - Petroleum, well salt, and combustible gases 

 are associated together in the Bavarian Alps, in Tuscany, Modena, Parma, the Car- 

 pathian Mountains, in America, and other localities. As marsh-gas is given off from 

 beds of rock-salt some chemists have suggested that CH 4 might yield by condensation 

 the homologous hydrocarbons C"H U and C'H 16 forming, the bulk of the volatile por- 

 tions of petroleum and paraffin. Naphtha was one of the ingredients said, by some 

 old authors, to enter into the composition of the Greek fire. C. G. W. 



Naphtha was originally a mineralogical term ; but much confusion has arisen in its 

 application, or in that of its mineralogical synonym Petroleum, to articles of commerce 

 or manufacture. The first distillate of coal-tor resembled in appearance and in some 

 properties the fluid described as oozing in many places from the earth ; hence the 

 apparent propriety of adapting an old name for the new manufactured product. But 

 both articles have now become important foundations for two very different industries, 

 and it has been found that the earth-oil cannot give benzole, the coal-tar colour producer. 

 So it has been tacitly agreed by technologists to give the name Naphtha to the distillate 

 from coal-tar, whilst Petroleum is assigned to the natural products ; for though speci- 

 mens of these may be chemically different, they serve the same manufacturing purposes 



