44*8 ' Mr. Faraday on new compou?ids 
With regard to the composition of this substance, my ex- 
periments tend to prove it a binary compound of carbon and 
hydrogen, two proportionals of the former element being 
united to one of the latter. The absence of oxygen is proved 
by the inaction of potassium, and the results obtained when 
passed through a red hot tube. 
The following is a result obtained when it was passed in 
vapour over heated oxide of copper. 0.776 grains of the 
substance produced 5.6 cubic inches of carbonic acid gas, at 
a temperature of 60°, and pressure 29.98 inches ; and 0.58 
grains of water were collected. The 5.6 cubic inches of gas 
are equivalent to 0.711704 grains of carbon by calculation, 
and the 0.58 grains of water to 0.064444 of hydrogen. 
Carbon . . 0.711704 or 11.44 
Hydrogen . 0.064444 or 1. 
These quantities nearly equal in weight the weight of the 
substance used ; and making the hydrogen 1 , the carbon is 
not far removed from 12, or two proportionals. 
those bodies which have elasticity enough to exist as vapours when alone at common 
pressures, are absorbed. No sulphurous acid is produced; nor when the acid is 
diluted, does any separation of the gas, vapour or substance take place, except of a 
small portion of a peculiar product resulting from the action of the acid on the 
substances, and dissolved by it. The acid combines directly with carbon and 
hydrogen ; and 1 find when united with bases forms a peculiar class of salts, some- 
what resembling the sulphovinates, but still different from them. I find also that 
sulphuric acid will condense and combine with olefiant gas, no carbon being sepa- 
rated, or sulphurous or carbonic acid being formed ; and this absorption has in 
the course of 1 8 days amounted to 84.7 volumes of olefiant gas to 1 volume of sul- 
phuric acid. The acid produced combines with bases, &c. forming peculiar salts, 
which I have not yet had jtime, but which it is my intention, to examine, as well as 
the products formed by the action of sulphuric acid on naphtha, essential oils, &c. 
and even upon starch and lignine, in the production of sugar, gum, &c. where no 
carbonization takes place, but where similar results seem to occur. 
