182 RESEARCHES UPON THE CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF GASES. 



Nickel chloride heated in natural gas (from Murrysville) underwent conversion 

 into its nearly colorless beautifully crystalline modification. 



An analysis made in the laboratory by Mr. H. T. Weed showed the composition 

 of the salt to have been unchang-ed. At a dull red heat reduction occurred, with 

 liberation of carbon. 



ETHANE. 



This hydrocarbon was prepared from ethyl iodide by the process of Gladstone 

 and Tribe, as described on p. 159. 



1. Reactions in Solution. 



All the reagents used in the case of methane were tried. The reactions were 

 so closely similar that a detailed statement is omitted as unnecessary. 



Ethane exhibits the same stability as the other paraffins towards reagents in 

 solution. Oil of vitriol containing crystals of potassium permanganate causes 

 prompt oxidation to carbon dioxide. 



Potassium rutheniate is quickly reduced with separation of metallic ruthenium. 



2. JReactions at High' Temperatures. 



Towards iodic acid, silver bichromate and the various metallic oxides, ethane 

 closely resembles methane in its reactions. 



PROPANE. 



Reactions. 



Experiments with propane, made by the method of Gladstone and Tribe from 

 propyl iodide, led to results closely similar to those obtained with ethane and methane. 



As already stated, propane is somewhat more easily oxidized than the paraffins 

 lower in carbon. In a series of trials, using the same reagents in solution as men- 

 tioned in the preceding experiments, no reactions were obtained which would serve 

 to distinguish between propane and methane or ethane. The results are therefore 

 omitted. 



ISOBUTANE. 



Reactiojis. 



This hydrocarbon, prepared by the method of Gladstone and Tribe from isobutyl 

 iodide, w^as found to closely resemble the paraffins already described in its reactions. 

 It is characterized, however, by a lower oxidation temperature, as already slated, in 

 regard to the experiments with palladium asbestos. 



