Analysis of the compound inflammable Gases. 2S7 



product, 100 cubic inches, corrected to a mean temperature 

 and pressure, weighed 24*28 grains. Hence its specific 

 gravity was to that of atmospheric air as 783 to 1000. The 

 second product was much lighter, 100 inches weighing 

 only 10*4 grains, and having, therefore, the specific gravity 

 of 335. The results are comprehended in the following 

 table. The carbonic acid, stated to have been generated by 

 the second combustion, was formed by adding to an aliquot 

 part of the residue, after the removal of the carbonic acid, 

 a proportion of hydrogen gas ; detonating the mixture by 

 the electric spark ; and proceeding as already directed. The 

 two first lines contain the minutes of actual experiments ; 

 the third and fourth these results reduced to centesimal pro- 

 portion. 











Carb.acid 



Ox. con- 







Grav. 



Cub. in. 



burned. 



Ox. eras. 



Carb.acid 



formed b\ 



^imed bv 



Total ox. 



Total car- 



consum- 

 ed. 



generat- 

 ed. 



second 

 combus- 



•ecorid 

 •ouibus- 



consum- 

 ed. 



bonicacid 

 Formed. 











tion. 



;ion. 







783 



7-3 



16-5 



8-3 



1-9 



0-9 



17-4 



10-2 



335 



9-8 



9-4 



4-8 











9.4 



4 '8 



783 



100 



222 



113-7 



2-6 



12 



234 



139-7 



335 



100 



96 



49 



o 







96 



49 



The early product of the gas from cannel coal, before 

 being washed with lime-water or caustic potash, is a mixture 

 of several different gases, viz. carbonic acid, sulphureted 

 hydrogen, olefiant, and a fourth, which is either a gas sui 

 generis, or a mixture of carbureted hydrogen and carbonic 

 oxide. To ascertain the proportion of these gases in any 

 mixture, is a problem of some difficulty. Sulphureted hy- 

 drogen and olefiant gases experience, it is well known, an 

 immediate condensation, when mingled with oxy-muriatic 

 acid gas, and in this way they mav be separated from carbonic 

 acid. Again, sulphureted hvdrogen and carbonic acid are 

 absorbed by liquid potash, which has no action on olefiant 

 gas. If, therefore, two equal portions of the gas from coal 

 be mixed with oxy-muriatic gas, the one in its recent state, 

 the other after being washed with potash, the condensation 

 of the former will be found to exceed that of the washed 

 portion. By the combined use of these agents, we may at- 

 tain 



