1825.] obtained by the Decomposition of Oil. 165 



required six volumes of oxygen, had consumed four of them 

 in producing four of carbonic acid gas, and had occupied the 

 other two by four of hydrogen to form water. Upon which 

 view, four volumes or proportionals of hydrogen = 4, are com- 

 bined with four proportionals of carbon =24, to form one 

 volume of the vapour, the specific gravity of which would 

 therefore be 28. Now this is but little removed from the 

 actual specific gravity obtained by the preceding experiments ; 

 and knowing that this vapour must contain small portions 

 of other substances in solution, there appears no reason to 

 doubt that, if obtained pure, it would be found thus con- 

 stituted. 



As the proportions of the elements in this vapour appear to 

 be the same as in olefiant gas, it became interesting to ascertain 

 whether chlorine had the same action upon it as on the latter 

 body. Chlorine and the vapour were therefore mixed in an 

 exhausted retort: rapid combination took place, much heat 

 was evolved, and a liquor produced resembling hydrochloride 

 of carbon, or the substance obtained by the same process from 

 olefiant gas. It was transparent, colourless, and heavier than 

 water. It had the same sweet taste, but accompanied by an 

 after aromatic bitterness, very persistent. Further, it was 

 composed of nearly equal volumes of the vapour and chlorine : 

 it could not therefore be the same as the hydrochloride of 

 carbon from olefiant gas, since it contained twice as much car- 

 bon and hydrogen. It was therefore treated with excess of 

 chlorine in sunlight: action slowly took place, more chlorine 

 combined with the substance, muriatic acid was formed, and 

 ultimately a fluid tenacious triple compound of chlorine, car- 

 bon, and hydrogen was obtained ; but no chloride of carbon. 

 This is a remarkable circumstance, and assists in showing that 

 though the elements are the same, and in the same proportions 

 as in olefiant gas, they are in a very different state of combi- 

 nation. 



The tension of the most volatile part of the condensed oil- 

 gas liquid, and indeed of the substance next beneath olefiant 

 gas in elasticity existing in the mixture constituting oil-gas, 

 appears to be equal to about four atmospheres at the tempe- 

 rature of 60. To ascertain this a tube was prepared, like the 



