90 
INTERESTING TO BRITISH CHEMISTS. 
and burns with a flame like tliat of alcohol. 
It is a dihydrate of carbydrogen, or the hy- 
drate of methylene of Dumas, and bears the 
same relation to pyroxylic spirit that either 
does to alcohol, It required 3 vo's. oxygen 
to burn it. Its density, by experiment, was 
TG17, which corresponds nearly with 
2 vols. carbon ..= •8332 = 2 atoms T5 
2 vols. hydrogen.. '1389 2 atoms ‘25 
1 vol. vapour of water ’6250 1 atom T125 
1-5972 2-875 
Hence, its composition is exactly the same 
as alcohol, in so far as regards the propor- 
tions of the elements ; but it is obvious, from 
the difference in their properties, that the 
elements are differently arranged, the dihy- 
drate of carbydrogen being 2 C H + H O. 
The dihydrate is a colourless gas, with an 
ethereal smell, and does not liquify vvhen 
cooled to — 16*^ (3^^^ F.) Water dissolves 
about 37 times its volume at the temperature 
of 18° (64° 4)> acquires a smell of ether, 
and a taste of pepper. Alcohol dissolves it 
in greater quantity. Sulphuric acid dissolves 
much of it, and abandons it when diluted 
with water. It is but justice to state that 
Macaire and Marcetdiscovered this gas. It 
is always a subject of regret to see one man 
undervaluing the labours of another. Dumas 
and Peligot have, in the present and pre- 
ceding instance, by omitting to state the ex- 
periments of their predecessors, laid them- 
selves open to this charge. W^e are willing 
to believe that it is a fault of omission, rather 
than of commission, proceeding from their 
ignorance of the expeiiments referred to. 
3. HYDRO-CHLORATE OF CARBY- 
DROGEN, or of methylene, according to 
Dumas, is prepared by heating a mixture of 
2 parts of common salt, 1 part of pyroxylic 
spirit, and 3 parts of concentrated sulphuric 
acid. A gas comes over which may he col- 
lected over water. It is a neutral body. It 
is colourless, smells of ether, with a sweet 
taste; burns with a white flaine, having green 
edges. W'^ater absorbs 2-8 times its volume 
at the temperature of 61°. It does not liquify 
at zero. Its density is 1*736. Hence, its 
composition is, 
1 atom carbydrogen .... 4860. . . .875 
1 atom hydrochloric acid 1-2847 . .4*625 
1-7707 5-500 
Its formula is therefore C H, X Ch H. 
this gas is decomposed into hydrochloric acid 
and carbydrogen by a red heat. 
4. HYDRIODATE OF CARBYDRO- 
G EN, is formed by distilling 1 part of phos- 
phorus, 8 parts of iodine, and 12 or 15 
pyroxylic sprit. The iodine is to be dissolved 
in the pyroxylic spirit, the solution placed 
in a retort, and the phosphorus added gra- 
dually; a lively action ensues. When it has 
subsided the rest of the phosphorus is added, 
and the mixture distilled. On either passes 
over consisting of pyroxylic spirit and hy- 
driodate of carbydrogen. The latter is sepa- 
rated by the addition of water, which imme- 
diately precipitates it. This hydriodate is 
still impure, and requires to be distilled over 
an excess of chloride of calcium and massi- 
cot, in a water-bath. When puie it is 
colourless ; slightly combustible, sp. gr ! 
2.237 at 714°. Boils at 104° or 122°. The i 
density ofits vapour is 4*883 by experiment. 
Hence, it consists of 
1 vol. hydriodic acid 4-4097 
1 ,, carbydrogen ‘8460 
4-8957 
5. SULPHATE OF CARBYDllO- 
G ION. — An oily substance produced by dis- 
tilling 1 part of pyroxylic spirit with 8 or 10 
parts of concentrated sulphuric acid. It is 
separated by decantation from the liquid with 
\yhich it is mixed. It is then agitated with a 
little water, to separate sulphuric acid, then 
with chloride of calcium, to remove the 
water, and is afterwards rectified with 
caustic-bai-ytes, to get rid of sulphurous 
acid. Lastly, it is kept for some time in a 
vacuum witli concentrated sulphuiic acid 
and potash. It possesses a smell of garlic. 
Sp. gr. 1-324. Boiling point 71 The 
density of its vapour is 4-565. It consists 
of CH X S X HO. Its atomic weight 
is, therefore, 7* 
6. NITRATE OF CARBYDROGEN, 
may be obtained by distilling 50 parts of 
nitrate of potash, 50 of pyroxylic spirit, and 
100 sulphuric acid. A thick and colourless 
ether remains at the bottom, which must be 
separated from that which swims over it, by 
decantation and distillation several times, 
with a mixture of massicot and chloride of 
calcium. Even yet it is not pure, for a por- 
tion of it boils at 140°. When the tempera- 
ture rises to 150° the remainder is nitrate of 
carbydrogen. It burns with a yellow flame. 
Sp. gr. T182. When heated in a tube it 
detonates violently, which renders it difficult 
to analyze it. It is easy to see the cause of 
this, because it contains nitric acid, hydro- 
gen, and carbon, like gunpowder. The 
density of its vapour is 2-640. Its composi- 
tion is probably Az -\- CH. 
7. OXALATE OF CARBYDROGEN, 
is obtained by distilling equal parts of sul- 
phuric acid, oxalic acid, and pyroxylic spirit. 
A liquid is procured which, in the air, cry- 
stallizes in rhomboidal plates. When the 
distillation has terminated, the retort is cooled, 
and 1 pait of pyroxylic spirit is added, and 
distillation performed again with the same 
results. The crystals are laid on filtering 
paper, purified by fusion in an oil bath, and 
distilled over massicot, to deprive them of 
oxalic acid. They fuse at 124°. Oxalate of 
carbydrogen dissolves in cold water. It dis- 
solves in alchol and pyroxylic spirit. Am- 
monia changes it into oxamide. It consists 
of CFI+C^' 03 + Aq. 
8. ACETATE OF CARBYDROGEN, 
may be readily procured by distilling 2 parts 
of pyroxylic spirit with 1 part of crystalliza- 
ble acetic acid, and 1 part of common sul- 
phuric acid. The product is agitated with 
chloride of calcium which separates an ether 
containing much acetate of carbydrogen, A 
little sulphurous acid and pyroxylic spirit re- 
main, which may be removed by agitation 
with caustic lime, and digestion for 24 hours 
with chloride of calcium The density of its 
