Olf THE COMPOSITION OF ALCOHOL. O^S 



found by means of an apparatus invented by Meusnier*, 

 that the weight of this water exceeded that of the alcohol 

 consumed. In this process all that is formed is not col- 

 lected, because this process is conducted in open vessels, in 

 which the air is continually renewed by a rapid current, that 

 carries out of the apparatus a considerable portion of the 

 vapour before it has time to condense. In burning 109 parts 

 of spirit of wine Lavoisier collected about ilG parts of wa- 

 terf . My analysis, sect. Hi, shows, that this aqueous pro- loo p. alcohol 

 duct should amount to 13-2 parts for 100 of perfect alcohol: Produce 132 

 but Lavoisier did not employ this, which would have af- 

 forded a result nearer to mine. As it is impossible to make 

 this comparison with accuracy, 1 contented myself with 

 examining whether the water produced by this process were 

 pure. 



The water obtained from alcohol by the apparatus ofxheiyafer 

 Meusnier, or more simply by burning it in the open air un- examined, 

 der the mouth of a large glass receiver, which condenses 

 the aqueous vapours on its sides, so that they drop from its 

 mouth, has not the alcoholic smell observed in the product 

 of combustion unaer a close receiver, sect. Tl; because in 

 the latttr the alcoholic vapour is retained, while in theopew 

 air it is dissipated, leaving as a residuum only the less eva*- 

 porable fluid with which it was mingled. 



This liquor is insipid : it has the same specific gravity as its propertias. 

 distilled water: it does not change the colour of sirup of 

 violets or of infusion of litmus : it is not precipitated by 

 acetate of barites, nitrate of silver, or limewater. 



Two ounces of water obtained from the combustion of Residuum left 

 alcohol in the open air under the mouth of a glass receiver ^^ '*♦ 

 were evaporated to dryness, and left as a residuum a thin 

 transparent varnish, that weighed | of a grain, and attracted 

 moisture from the air. The solution of this varnish in a 

 small quantity of water was rendered slightly turbid by oxa- 

 late of potash. The combustion of spirit of wine rectified yhe same bv 

 without addition afforded the same result. This residxium alcohol rectiiv 



♦ For a description of this appavalua see Lavoisier's Elfimens de Chi- 

 «ie, vol. 11, p. 189, tst. edit. , 



i LaToisier's (posthunnous) M6iaoires de Chimie, vol. il, p. 281. 



appeared 



