496 



DR EDMUND RONALDS ON THE MOST VOLATILE 



Closely corresponding to the relations in hydride of butyl, which are, — 

 1:3-5: 4. 



This gas was therefore composed of — 



28'74 nitrogen, 



15-37 oxygen, 



55-89 hydride of butyl, 



and it would appear from this experiment that the light volatile liquids absorb 

 and retain oxygen in greater proportion than that element is contained in atmo- 

 spheric air. 



The liquid condensed by the freezing mixture during the collection of these 

 gases, and that obtained by subsequently heating the large body of liquid from 

 which they were expelled to a higher temperature, not exceeding however 30^ 

 Cent., or the boiling point of hydride of amyl, was redistilled. It commenced to 

 boil at 0° Cent. ; a considerable portion passing over between 0° and 4° was col- 

 lected separately ; another fraction between 6" and 8° was also collected apart ; 

 the remainder nearly all distilled below 15" Cent. 



The liquid distilling between 0° and 4° Cent, is nearly pure hydride of butyl, 

 which has not yet been described. It is a perfectly clear, colourless, very mobile 

 liquid, having an agreeable sweet smell, but eluding, by its great volatility, the 

 sense of taste. It is insoluble in water, but dissolves in alcohol and ether, and 

 alcohol of 98 per cent, absorbs between 11 and 12 times its volume of the vapour 

 at a temperature of 21°-5 Cent. It burns with a yellow, not very luminous flame. 

 Mixed in the gaseous state with twice its volume of chlorine, liquid chloride of 

 butjd is formed, and the original 3 volumes become condensed into 2 volumes of 

 hydrochloric acid. 



The specific gravity of the liquid at 0° Cent, is 0-600. It is therefore the 

 lightest liquid at present known. 



The vapour-density determined by Dumas' method, the vapour being absorbed 

 by alcohol, gave the following results : — 



Temperature of air, 

 Barometer, 

 Empty globe. 

 Globe and substance, 



13-8 C. 



•7615 m. 

 30'577 grms. 

 30-788 grms. 



Temperature of sealing, . 40° C. 



Capacity of globe, . . . 185-6 ce. 



Air bubble, 7'8 cc. 



Temperature of alcohol, . 14° C. 



Hence vapour density=2'll. 



Hydride of butyl, C^Hjo, requires by calculation 2*006. 



The liquid, analysed eudiometrically in the gaseous state, gave the following 

 numbers : — 



