

CeMPOSITICN OF SULPHURIC ETHEH. jg^ 



The 53 parts of ethereous fluid, which I suppose equal These rectified 

 to 60, were mixed with liquid potash, and by the known ^° "^ ^' 

 processes of rectification afforded me 25-25 parts of ether. 



The residuum of this rectification, which must be equal Residuum 

 to 34-75 parts, was separated from the potash by distilla- ^j^'^''^"^ ^°'^ 

 tion. It was miscible with water in any proportion, and 

 had nearly the specific gravity of common spirit of wine. 

 I mixed it with an equal weight of sulphuric acid, and it 

 produced 23-25 parts of ethereous fluid, which, having 

 been mixed with potash and rectified, yielded 10-3 parts of 

 ether. 



The alcoholic residuum of this rectification was separated and afterward 

 from the potash, and mixed for the third time with sulphu- ^'^' 

 ric acid. This afforded 3-2 parts of rectified ether. The 

 80 parts of perfect alcohol therefore produced in all these In all 38*75 of 

 operations 25-25 + 10-3-f 3-2 = 38-75 parts of ether, or ^"'"^ ''^^'"■ 

 nearly half the weight of the alcohol employed. Ten parts 

 of water did not entirely dissolve one of this ether. Its 

 specific gravity was equal to 0-736 at 16'-' R. [68«> I'.]. I 

 did not wash it with water, but it would certainly have been 

 lighter, if I could have obtained the specific gravity of that 

 which was volatilized. I have taken no account of a small 

 quantity of spirit of wine, which, according to the obser- 

 vation of Proust, always remains mingled with the sulphu- 

 ric acid after the first separation of the ether. I do not 

 think therefore I shall be far from the truth, if I say, that 

 200 parts of perfect alcohol produce by their complete de- 

 composition 100 parts of ether of a density equal to 0-717 

 at 16° R. [68« F.]. 



If we take the difference between 200 parts of alcohol Elements left 

 and 100 of the ether produced from it, reducing the two ^[J|.' ^jfj'^^j','?^ 

 liquids to their ultimate elements, we shall have a remainder ration of the 

 equal to 100 parts, which, setting aside the sulphuric acid, ^^'^'"* 

 express the elements left by the alcohol after the separation 

 of the ether; and which include 



Carbon - - . 28 



Oxigen - - . 57 



Ilidrogen _ _ S 



JVitrog.en 



This 



