1825.] obtained by the Decomposition of Oil. 163 



cubic inches would be deduced as 93 grains ; and its specific 

 gravity to hydrogen as 44- to 1. Hence probably the reason 

 why, experimentally, the specific gravity of bicarburet of hy- 

 drogen in vapour was found higher than by theory it would 

 appear to be when pure. 



Sulphuric acid acted much more powerfully upon this sub- 

 stance than upon the bicarburet ; great heat was evolved, 

 much discoloration occasioned, and a separation took place 

 into a thick black acid, and a yellow lighter liquid, resisting 

 any further action at common temperatures. 



0*64 grain of this substance was passed over heated oxide 

 of copper: 4*51 cubic inches of carbonic acid gas were ob- 

 tained, and 0*6 grain of water. The carbonic acid and water 

 are equivalent to 



Carbon v/. - '-. '-,, : , . : . 0-573176, or 8-764 

 Hydrogen .... 0*066666, or 1- 



but as the substance must have contained much bicarburet 

 of hydrogen, it is evident that, if in a pure state, the carbon 

 would fall far short of the above quantity, and the compound 

 would approximate of course to a simple carburet of hydrogen 

 containing single proportionals. 



New Carburet of Hydrogen. Of the various other products 

 from the condensed liquor, the next most definite to the bi- 

 carburet of hydrogen appears to be that which is most volatile. 

 If a portion of the original liquid be warmed by the hand or 

 otherwise, and the vapour which passes off be passed through 

 a tube at 0, very little uncondensed vapour will go on to the 

 mercurial trough ; but there will be found after a time a por- 

 tion of fluid in the tube, distinguished by the following pro- 

 perties. Though a liquid at 0, it upon slight elevation of 

 temperature begins to boil, and before it has attained 32 is all 

 resolved into vapour or gas, which may be received and pre- 

 served over mercury. 



This gas is very combustible, and burns with a brilliant 

 flame. The specific gravity of the portion I obtained was 

 between 27 and 28, hydrogen being 1 ; for 39 cubic inches 

 introduced into an exhausted glass globe were found to increase 

 its weight 22-4 grains at 60 F., bar. 29'94. Hence 100 cubic 

 inches weigh nearly 57*44 grains. 



