70 AKALYSI8 OF OLEFIANT GAS. 



called oxicarbnretted hldrogens. The gasses, wliicli I ob- 

 tained by the decomposition of alcohol, and of sulphuric 

 ether, in a redhot tube, were found, after accurate analyses, 

 to be included in the same class*; and it was the same with 

 respect to the hidrogen gas, that Dr. Thomson obtained 

 from the distillation of peatf. 

 But okfiant After so many experiments concurring to prove, that 



gdsnottio- oxigen is an essential intermedium in the aeriform com- 



roughly exa- . . , . . . 



milled. hination of hidrogen and carbon, the examination of a 



farther number of compound inflammable gasbes would 

 seem superfluous; and it is no doubt for this reason, that 

 the oleliant gas, obtained by subjecting to a gentle heat 

 a mixture of alcohol with four times its weight of sul^ 

 phuric acid, has not yet been accurately analysed. This 

 gas, discovered by the Dutch chemists, is particularly dis- 

 tinguished from every other inflammable gas, as is well 

 known, by forming an oil, when mixed with oxirauriatic 

 acid gas, and by furnishing more light, and more carbonic 

 ' acid, when burned. 

 Obstacle to its When olefiant gas is detonated with the proper propor- 

 analyi-is. tiou of oxigen gas for burning it completely, it breaks the 



strongest eudiometers. This has prevented Mr. Berthollet 

 from adding its analysis to tiiose I have mentioned above : 

 and he made no attempt to surmount this difficulty, be- 

 Pre-umed to cause it might be presumed, that the olefiant gas contained 

 contain oxj. oxigen, from an experiment of the Dutch chemists ; who 

 announced, that this inflammable gas, if passed through a 

 redhot ^iorcelain tube, expanded, and acquired all the 

 properties of the oxicarburetted hidrogen obtained from 

 sulphuric ether by the same process:}:. 



• See Journal, vol. XXI, p. 3i>6. 



t lb. vol. XVI, p. 241. 



;f Wben the Dutch chemists mentioned these facts, they were un- 

 acquainted with the methods since invented for analysing inflamma- 

 ble gasses with accuracy ; and consequently could not make this com- 

 jiarison with precision. It is probable, from other experitncwts, that 

 carbon must have been deposited in the tube. This process requires 

 many precautions, for us to place any confidence in its results. It^is 

 necessary, that the olefiant gas should be perfectly dry, and have no 

 oxigen from the atmosphere mixed with it. 



Dr. 



g-n. 



