GASEOUS BODIES. 



that it consists of 2 volumes of hydrogen gas, 

 and 2 volumes of carbon vapour, condensed 

 into one volume. Now, as in these two bodies 

 atoms may be substituted for volumes, this gas 

 is obviously a compound of 2 atoms hydrogen, 

 and 2 atoms carbon. Hence its atomic weight 

 is 1-75 ; but 1-75 x 0-5555 = O9722 ; so that 

 this gas coincides with the compound gases in 

 the second table ; and it might have been insert- 

 ed in the second division of that table, after car- 

 buretted hydrogen. 



But the singularity of this substance, which is 

 obviously a compound of 1 atom hydrogen and 

 1 atom carbon, is, that it seems capable of form- 

 ing a variety of gases, differing from each other 

 in the number of integrant particles of carburet 

 of hydrogen, which a single volume contains. 

 Gases seem to exist, containing 1 integrant par- 

 ticle, 2 integrant particles, 3 integrant particles, 

 4 integrant particles, and 6 integrant particles. 

 Of course, the specific gravity of each of these 

 gases will be different, though each is regulated 

 by the law which determines the specific gravi- 

 ties of the compound gases in the second table. 

 It may be worth while to exhibit the atomic 

 weights and specific gravities of these gases. 



ATOMIC WEIGHT. SP. GRAVITY. 



Simple hydrocarburet . . 0-875 0-4861 



Olefiant gas . . . . 1-75 0-9722 



Oil gas, or tritohydrocarburet . 2-625 1.4583 



16 



