J. L. Smith — Carbon Compounds in Meteorites. 441 



oxides. If, however, it is to be considered as combined in a 

 manner analogous to the H^O, with ethyl to form alcohol, then 

 there may be some plausibility in the hypothesis. For it will 

 be remarked in referring to the actions of this hydrated car- 

 bon that it in no way resembles amorphous or ordinary carbon. 

 It is represented by MM. Schutzenberger and Bourgeois as 

 follows: C":3H2 0=carbon 70-95, hydrogen 3-23, oxygen 

 25-80 per cent. 



According to M. Cloez, the carbonaceous matter of the Or- 

 gueil meteorite, after being dried at 110°, was found to be com- 

 posed of carbon 63-45, hydrogen 5-98, oxygen 30-75; and 

 when we consider that some of this hydrogen belongs to the 

 hydrocarbon now known to exist in that meteorite, the remain- 

 der of the hydrogen will approach near the proportion required 

 to form water with the oxygen ; and the quantity of carbon 

 that may exist as a hydrate will be slightly diminished. 



Attempts were made to separate completely all the mineral 

 matter from the carbon, but I have failed to do so, after using 

 fluorhydric acid alone, and in conjunction with nitric acid, also 

 fluoride of sodium and sulphuric acid with a small amount of 

 water, then treating the residue with cold nitric acid. There is 

 no difficulty in getting rid of a great part of it, but in every in- 

 stance the carbonaceous matter has been altered, however care- 

 fully the temperature was managed. 



When this matter thus obtained is heated in a closed tube, 

 after being dried at 110° C, it not only furnishes water at about 

 250° C, but gives out a very strong odor somewhat like that 

 produced from certain bituminous coals, at one point resem- 

 bling the disagreeable odor of an ignited cigar of a very inferior 

 quality of tobacco.* 



Viewed in the light of these experimental researches, the most 

 reasonable conclusion is that this carbonaceous matter is not in 

 any proper sense either carbon or humus, but a carbon com- 

 pound analogous to the one just referred to. 



Future researches upon these solid compounds, resemblmg 

 in appearance amorphous carbon, such as hydrographitic oxide, 

 pyrographitic oxide, carbon-hydrate, and similar compounds 

 that may yet be discovered, will doubtless throw some light on 

 the true nature of the carbonaceous compound of the black 

 meteoritea So far as our knowledge now extends, its forma- 

 tion and its origin are wrapped in as much obscurity as the ori- 

 gin of the bodies in which it is found. 



What we do know is that thfs carbonaceous matter occurs 

 with the same minerals, viz., olivine and pyroxene, which 

 the predominating constituent materials of all stony i--^—-^ 

 * T1m8 odor will be found to belong to the hydrated cm" 



