820 METHYL. 



and combustible; water dissolves 3? volumes of this gas, alcohol, 

 hydrate of oxide of methyl and concentrated sulphuric acid 

 much larger proportions. It separates from the latter, on dilu- 

 tion with water; the density of the gas is by experiment 1605, 

 by calculation 1570, and its combining measure 2 volumes. 



Oxide of methyl combines directly with the vapour of anhy- 

 drous sulphuric acid, in a glass balloon carefully cooled, and 

 forms the neutral sulphate of oxide of methyl (Regnault). 



HYDRATE OF OXIDE OF METHYL, OR WOOD SPIRIT. 



Formula, C 2 H 3 O + HO=MeO + HO. 



Syn. Pyroxylic spirit. In the process of purifying the 

 vinegar from wood, the crude acid is saturated with lime and 

 concentrated by evaporation. The first portion of liquid which 

 distils over contains the wood spirit, which is concentrated by 

 repeated rectification. The wood spirit or pyroxylic spirit of 

 commerce is a heterogeneous mixture, containing besides the 

 hydrate of oxide of methyl which forms the larger part of it, 

 acetone and several other combustible liquids. To purify the 

 wood spirit it is poured over an excess of chloride of calcium 

 in a retort, and distilled by a water-bath heat, which expels 

 acetone and other liquids and leaves the wood spirit united with 

 the chloride of calcium. A measure of water equal to the 

 original volume of the wood spirit is then added to the retort, 

 and the distillation continued ; the latter liquid comes over 

 diluted with a small quantity of water, from which it may be 

 separated and obtained anhydrous by another distillation from 

 quicklime. 



Wood spirit is a volatile colourless liquid, of an alcoholic 

 but at the same time empyreumatic smell and taste. It is very 

 inflammable and burns with a pale flame like alcohol. It is 

 neutral, mixes when pure with water, without becoming turbid, 

 and is also miscible with alcohol and ether. Its density is 

 0.798 at 68; it boils at 140 according to Kane, and at 15 1.? 

 (66. 5 cent.) according to Dumas. The density of its vapour is 

 by experiment 1120, by calculation 1110; its combining mea- 

 sure 4 volumes. 



Hydrate of oxide of methyl dissolves, with the aid of heat, 



