Sulphurous Ether and Sulphate of Ether ine. 279 



sides the ethereal sulphurous sulphate of etherine usually resulting 

 from the process, and condensing in the first receiver, it was found 

 that in the other retorts severally, there vi^ere liquids of various de- 

 grees of volatility. That in the last boiled at 28°, but the boiling 

 points rose gradually as the quantity of the residual liquid diminished. 



In order to ascertain the nature of the sulph-acids abstracted 

 from the ethereal sulphurous sulphate of etherine by the ammonia 

 employed, chloride of barium was added in excess to the resulting 

 ammoniacal solution, until no further precipitate would ensue. The 

 liquid having been rendered quite clear by filtration, soon became 

 milky. By evaporation to dryness, and exposure to a red heat, a 

 residuum was obtained which proved partially insoluble in chloro- 

 hydric acid, and by ignition with charcoal, yielded sulphide of bari- 

 um. It appears, therefore, that a hyposulphate of barytes existed 

 in the liquid after it was filtered ; as I believe that the hyposulphuric 

 acid is the only oxacid of sulphur which is capable of forming with 

 barytes a soluble compound, susceptible, by access of oxygen, of 

 being converted into an insoluble sulphate, and precipitating in con- 

 sequence. 



It must be evident from the facts which I have narrated, that the 

 yellow liquid obtained by distilling equal measures of sulphuric acid 

 and alcohol, consists of oil of wine held in solution by sulphurous 

 ether, composed of nearly equal volumes or weights of its ingredi- 

 ents ; also, that the affinity between the ether and the acid is analo- 

 gous to that which exists between alcohol and water. The apparent 

 detection of sulphuric acid in the ammonia, justifies a surmise, that 

 the etherine distils in the state of a hyposulphate, which subsequent- 

 ly undergoes a decomposition into sulphurous acid and sulphate of 

 etherine. 



The liquid above alluded to, as resulting from the saturation of 

 the ethereal sulphurous sulphate of etherine by ammonia, and distil- 

 lation by means of a water bath gradually raised to a boiling heat, is 

 a very fragrant variety of oil of wine. It differs from that described 

 by Berzelius as the heavy oil of wine of Hennel and Serullas, in 

 being lighter and containing less sulphuric acid. I have a specimen 

 exactly of the specific gravity of water, and have had one so light 

 as to float on that liquid. The oil of wine obtained by ammonia 

 approximates, in its qualities, to the variety which Thenard de- 

 scribes as light oil of wine. The presence of sulphuric acid in a 

 definite or invariable ratio does not appear requisite to the distinct- 

 ive flavor or odor of oil of wine. 



