SS9 ON THE COMPOSITION OF ALCOHOL. 



representing pure alcohol to 87"2 ; and, making the calcu- 

 lation for 100 parts, they will contain 



Carbon • • 36-97 



Hidrogen 15*87 



Oxigen 47" J 6 



100. 



This proves. The Conformity of these results, with those of my first 

 ateof UrnThad ^"^l^sis, evidently proves, that spirit of wine rectified with- 

 notafFected the out addition is identical, as to its essential principles, with 

 alcohol. alcohol that has been rectified only twice from muriate of 



lime. Besides, the latter has none of the characteristics of 

 ether; but retains the properties of alcohol, such as having 

 a weak smell peculiar to spirit of wine, and not in the least 

 ethereal. Perfect alcohol combines with water in all pror 

 portions, and its combinations with this liquid undergo 

 changes of density nearly corresponding with those, which 

 common spirit of wine undergoes*. It has a very small de- 

 gree of expansibility, not at all approaching to that of ether 

 the lowest rectified. Perfect alcohol forms a little soot dur- 

 ing its combustion, but only when it is made to burn with a 

 thick and stifled flame. Spirit of wine obtained by simple 

 distillation likewise furnishes some under the same circum- 

 stances, but not so much, because it is less concentrated. 

 Ether does or does not form soot according as the atmos- 

 pheric air has more or less access to it during combustion. 

 The character attempted to be derived from the presence qf 

 soot therefofe, for distinguishing these two fluids, is not 

 essential. 

 Possibly it may I will not assert ho\yevi^r, that alcohol distiljed a greater 



however, if too jjyjj,|;jgr ^f times from muriate of lime may not contain a 



much be used, . 



or the rectifica- perceptible quantity of ether : for I have observed, aftef 



li'^^aTeV^^" having twice distilled a pound of alroliol from an equal 



* 1 suppose however, that a sufficient quantity of water is first added 

 to the perfect alcohol to reduce it to the density of spirit «f wine recti- 

 fied by simple distillation. Compare ilie changes of the specific gravity 

 of perfect alcohol by mixture with water ^n Die neveren Gegenstande der 

 Chemie by Ricliter, with the tables of Rlagden and Gilpin in the I'hiloso- 

 phical Transactions for 1790 and 1 794. 



weight 



