COMPOSITION OF SULPHURIC ET/IFR. 331 



To find whether the liquid 1 examined contained acetic ft contained a 

 ^ , . c I'ttle acetic 



acid, I added a few drops of potash to 288 grains ol water acid. 



obtained by the same process as the preceding. The solu- 

 tion was saturated with carbonic acid gas, then evaporated 

 to dryness, and afterward washed with alcohol; when a 

 white salt was dissolved, weighing 0-7 of a grain, and very 

 speedily deliquescing. It had all the characters of acetate 

 of potash. 



Thus the experiments I have just related indicate in the All the foreign 

 water produced from the combustion of ether the presence "^^^^"^^^ '" ^^ 

 of acetate of ammonia, a portion of sulphuric acid too 

 small' to be weighed, and a slight deliquescent varnish, the 

 nature of which I could not ascertain. But the weight of 

 all these substances taken together is so small with respect 

 to the water holding them in solution, that it can make 

 very little difference in the proportions of carbon, hidro- 

 gen, and oxigen, assigned to ether in my last analysis. 



Sect. X. JppUcation of the preceding Analijues to the 



Inqidnj concerning the Changes Alcohol undergoes in its 



Transformation into Ether. 



In considering the changes effected in the conversion of Comparison of 

 alcohol into ether, I shall regard only the proportions of ^{^^1° 

 oxigen, hidrogen, and carbon, neglecting the nitrogen; 

 the existence of Avhich in alcohol is certain, but question- 

 able in ether, though it is demonstrated, that the Avater 

 produced by the combustion of ether with the acid of at- 

 mospheric air contains a perceptible quantity of ammonia. 



100 parts of alcohol are composed, 100 parts of ether, 

 § V, of 



Carbon - - - 43-5 



Oxigen - - - 38 



Hidrogen - - - 15 



Nitrogen . - - 3-5 



. 100 



100 



These results show, that in equal weights ether eontains Alcohol loses 

 much K9.ore carbon and hidrogen, but much less oxigen, ^^^^.^^^'^^j^^J^ 

 than alcohol docs. Mr. Bcrthollet had already considered 



ether 



VIII, 



of 



. 



b9 



- 



19 



. 



22 



