1894.] The Action of Heat upon Etliylene. 105 



On analysis the gas gave 



1. Acetylene O06 



Unsaturated hydrocarbons 81'38 



Paraffins 6*66 1 , - Q 



Marsh gas 9*17 / 



Hydrogen O'OO 



Nitrogen 3-10 



100-37 

 Original gas 



Ethylene 98*03 



Nitrogen 197 



100-00 

 Analysis without paraffin absorption 



2. Acetylene 0*06 



Unsaturated hydrocarbons 81*25 



Saturated hydrocarbons 17*70 



Hydrogen O'OO 



Nitrogen 3-10 



102-11 



0-0186 gram of oil = 17*3 c.c. of acetylene at 17 C. and 760 mm. 



100 vols. of gas after heating condense to 89 vols. gas and 15 '4 vols. 



acetylene. 



Calculating the analysis from a percentage to a basis of 89, we 



get 



Acetylene 0*05 



Unsatnrated hydrocarbons 72'41 



Saturated hydrocarbons 14'00 



Hydrogen O'OO 



Nitrogen 2'76 



89-22 



Taking 72'41 from 98*03 = 25*62 of ethylene decomposed, and, 

 according to the equation 3C 2 H 4 = 2C 2 H 2 + 2CH 4 , 25*62 should 

 give- 

 Calculated 17 vols. of acetylene and 17 vols. of methane 

 Found. . . . 15'4 14 



the discrepancy in the figures being due to interactions between the 

 products of decomposition, and the result would certainly seem to 

 point to the above equation as representing the initial decomposition. 

 The next temperature tried was 900 1000 C., and the following 

 figures were obtained : 



