COMPOSITION or SULPHURIC ETHER. 3S3 



Sect. VII. Decomposition of Ether bij an incandescent 

 Porcelain Tube. 



Through a porcelain tube glazed within and heated red 1103 grains of 

 hot I passed 1103 grains of ether. I did not apply fire Ji- throughTred 

 rectly to the retort, from which the ether was distilled, for hot porcelaiu 

 the vicinity of the furnace that heated Ihe tube raised it to " ^' 

 27® R. [92*7° F.], and this temperature was sufficient to 

 distil over the whole of the ether in the space of fourteen 

 hours. 



The apparatus for this experiment was in all respects si- as the alcohol 

 milar to that employed for the analysis of alcohol, and de- ^^ '^^"' 

 scribed in Sect. V. The porcelain tube was equal in size, 

 and exposed to the same degree of heat in the same furnace. 



The ether was entirely decomposed; at least no smell of was entirely de- 

 ether was perceptible in the vessels, that received the pro- *^"^di°t^*^* 

 ducts of the operation. It yielded me, 



1, In the middle of the porcelain tube 5| grains of char- charcoal 5|, 

 eoal, Avhich separated in the form of a thin lr>af or scroll. °^^"^^* 

 This charcoal, being incinerated in a platina crucible, left 



no ponderable quantity of ashes. 



2, In the glass worm and the upper half of the receiver volatile oil 

 ^bout three grains of a very inflammable essential oil, cry- 3 grams, 

 stallized in shining scales, transparent, and smelling of ben- 

 zoin. Most of these crystals were contaminated by a brown 

 empyrcumatic oil, which they left behind after evaporating 



in the common temperature of the air. 



3, In the end of the porcelain tube that projected be- another oil 43 

 yond the furnace, in the worm, and in the receiver, where S'"^"'* 



it was more abundant, 43 grains of an oil nearly black, 

 partly fluid, and partly of the consistence of honey. This 

 had a smell of benzoin mixed with an empyreuma; was 

 soluble in alcohol, and insoluble in water ; acrid, and, the 

 lips being torched with it, it gave pain, and caused suppu- 

 ration. When spread upon paper it dried, and, viewed 

 through a microscope, exhibited small yellow crystals, 

 which were not volatile like the preceding in the common 

 temperature of the atmosphere. 



4, A drop of water, weighing about three grains, found ^'^ter S grain?, 

 iu the worm. It was colourless, smelt of benzoin, emifted 



Y 2 vapours 



