of Sulphuric Acid and Alcohol, %c. 357 



similar results ; 20 grains of the salt had been found to con- 

 tain 5'ib potash, 



9*60 sulphuric acid. 

 5 grains therefore must have contained 1*44 potash. 



2*40 sulphuric acid. 

 5'5 cubic inches carbonic acid gas contain 0'699 carbon. 

 The water obtained was 1*40. 



5*939 grains, 

 making an excess over the 5 grains employed of 939 of a 

 grain. If this excess be oxygen furnished to hydrogen to 

 form part of the water obtained, and such a view is confirmed 

 by the loss of weight of the tube and its contents after the 

 operation, it will give of hydrogen 0*1174 of a grain, and of 

 water so formed 1*05 grams; this deducted from the whole 

 quantity of water obtained, leaves 0*35 of a grain water of 

 crystallization ; 100 grains would therefore be composed of 



Potash . . . . . . 28*84 



Sulphuric acid . . . 48*84 



Carbon ....... 13*98 



Hydrogen 2*34 



Water 7* 



These numbers indicate nearly one proportional of potash, 

 two of sulphuric acid, four of carbon, and four of hydrogen ; 

 and it would appear that in these salts the four proportionals 

 of carbon, with the four of hydrogen, are saturating one of 

 sulphuric acid. I am not able at present to account for the 

 difference between the quantity of water and a proportional 

 number, every precaution having been taken in these experi- 

 ments to insure accuracy. Several attempts were made to 

 procure an anhydrous salt, but without success, in consequence 

 of the facility with which these acids and other compounds 

 decompose. 



The resemblance of these salts to the sulphovinates, in- 

 duced me to suppose they might be similar in composition. 

 I therefore prepared some sulphovinate of potash. Its cry- 

 stalline form was the same as that of the salt obtained from 

 oil of wine, and upon examination it proved in all respects 

 similar. 



While preparing some of the sulphovinates, I was struck 

 with the very great change produced in sulphuric acid by 

 mere mixture with alcohol. 



440 grains of sulphuric acid were mixed with an equal 

 weight of alcohol of specific gravity '820 ; the mixture when 

 cold was diluted with water and saturated by carbonate of 

 soda, partially dried, of which it required for saturation 398 



grains, 



