AETICLE YI. 



RESEAKCHES UPON THE CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF G-ASES. 



BY FRANCIS C. PHILLIPS, PH.D. 

 Read before the American Philosophical Society, March 17, 1893. 



CONTENTS. 



I. Phenomena of Oxidation of Hydrogen, Carbonic Oxide, Gaseous Paraffins, 

 Olefines and Acetylene. 

 II. Qualitative Reactions of Gases. 



III. Substitution Products of the Action of Chlorine upon Methane. 

 TV. Preparation of Halogen Compounds of Alkyls and Olefines. 

 Y. Composition of JSTatural Gas as found in Western Pennsylvania and other 

 Regions. 

 YI. A Method for the Quantitative Analysis of l^atural Gas. 

 YII. Origin of Natural Gas and Petroleum. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The purpose of the following research, as originally begun, was to study ex- 

 haustively the composition of natural gas as found in Western Pennsylvania. Dur- 

 ing a series of analyses by Bunsen's methods, using eudiometers calibrated with 

 great care, and making readings by means of a Grunot cathetometer of superior 

 construction, many difficulties were encountered which were not easily overcome. 

 More exact methods for the positive identification of the various constituents of a 

 gas mixture seemed necessary, and finally a study of the qualitative reactions of 

 gases was undertaken. Since the publication of Bunsen's Gasometrische Methoden, 



A. p. S. VOL. XVIL T. 



