RESEAKCHES UPOIiT THE CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF GASES. 159 



produce an intimate mixture of both in finely divided state. Oxidation occurred in 

 four trials between the melting points of Cdl2 and AgCl. 



The mixture of the two metals is, therefore, no more eflScient than palladium 

 alone. 



JExpt. 11. Platinum Asbestos. — 



Air 96.9 



Methane 3. 1 



Oxidation occurred in five trials at a temperature just belovr the melting point 

 of AgCl. 



JExpt. 12. Gold Asbestos. — 



Air 96.9 



Methane 3.1 



Oxidation occurred at a temperature of dull redness. In this last experiment a 

 Hempel apparatus was used. 



According to Mallard and Le Chatelier, methane inflames at 780° {Ann. des 

 Mines, 1880, p. 201). 



3. Ethaiste. — This gas was prepared from ethyl iodide by the method of Glad- 

 stone and Tribe already described. The resulting gas was purified from alcohol 

 vapors by prolonged contact with oil of vitriol. It was then treated with potash 

 solution and with palladium chloride (dry). 200 c.c. of the gas so purified yielded, 

 on burning, no trace of halogen when the product of combustion was aspirated 

 through potash solution. 



Mept. 13. Palladium Asbestos. — 



Ethane 3.1 



Air 96.1 



In several trials made with ethane, the temperature of oxidation was found to be 

 between the melting points of cadmium iodide and silver bromide. Parallel trials 

 were then made, using air containing 3.1 per cent, of methane (from methyl iodide) 

 in one tube and 3.1 per cent, ethane in the other. Both tubes were charged with 

 portions of the same lot of palladium asbestos, and both were heated simultaneously 

 in the iron oven, so that the conditions to which the twro gases were subjected were 

 as nearly as possible identical. In ten trials oxidation occurred in both tubes in the 

 neighborhood of the melting point of silver chloride ; but it was noticeable that the 

 methane was oxidized in eight of the experiments a little earlier (and hence at a 

 slightly lov/er temperature) than the ethane. The more complex hydrocarbon CjHo 

 is at least as stable, and probably somewhat more stable, than the lower CHj. A 

 parallel case is probably to be found in the difference in stability of the correspond- 



