ETHER 
thick, and dark coloured ; and the remain- 
ing quantities of its elements, its carbon, 
hydrogen, and oxygen, unite and form the 
ether. 
This explanation is founded on the sup- 
position, that the sulphuric acid is decom- 
posed in the process' by which ether is 
formed. But a few years ago it was affirm- 
ed by Fourcroy and Vauquelin, from a 
series of experiments which they under- 
took to elucidate this subject, that such a 
decomposition of the acid is not at all 
necessary to its formation : that although 
it may take place to a certain extent towards 
the end of the process, when the liquor is 
loaded with carbon, there is no indication 
of its in the first stage, during which, prin- 
cipally, the ether is formed ; no sulphurous 
acid gas is discharged, and if the process 
be stopped at the end of this stage, the re- 
maining acid, they found, is capable of sa- 
turating the same quantity of alkali, as be- 
fore its mixture with the alcohol. (“ Nichol- 
son’s Journal,” 4to, vol. i. p, 385.) 
These chemists gave, therefore a differ- 
ent view of this subject, which they ap- 
plied even to the action of this acid on 
vegetable matter in general. They sup- 
pose that the sulphuric acid suffers no de- 
composition, and that it acts rio other part 
than causing, by the exertion of a disposing 
affinity, the decomposition of the alcohol. 
By this affinity, it disposes part of the 
hydrogen and of the oxygen of the alcohol 
to combine and form water: the balance 
of attractions being thus subverted, a quan- 
tity of carbon is separated, and the remain- 
ing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, com- 
bine and form ether. 
This theory, however, advanced by these 
chemists, is not perhaps perfectly establish- 
ed. Though they affirm, that the acid re- 
maining after the formation of ether, satu- 
rates as much alkali as it would do previ- 
ous to its mixture with the alcohol, the ex- 
periment by which this is supposed to be 
established is not altogether without fallacy. 
During the formation of ether, there is al- 
ways, also a formation from the elements 
of the alcohol, of some of the vegetable 
acids, particularly of the acetous and oxalic. 
The oxalic, it has been ascertained by the 
observation of Cadet, is formed copiously 
even without heat, merely by allowing the 
mixture of acid and alcohol to remain at 
rest for some time. These will contribute 
to the saturation of the alkali ; so that if 
none of the sulphdric acid were decom- 
posed, more alkali ought in reality to be 
saturated by it after, than before its mix 
ture with the alcohol. 
There are also some facts which appear 
to prove the necessity of the presence of 
some substance that can part with its oxy- 
gen, for the production of ether. Thus, 
ether cannot be formed from the muriatic 
acid, but it can with facility from the 
oxymuriatic ; it is likewise formed with 
great rapidity by the nitric acid ; neither 
of w hich can exert a strong disposing affi- 
nity to water, though both very readily 
part with their oxygen. 
Whatever opinion, however, may be 
formed as to the manner in which the 
changes that take place during the forma- 
tion of ether are produced, the nature of 
the changes themselves seems sufficiently 
well ascertained. It is proved, that a 
quantity of the hydrogen of the alcohol is 
expended in the formation of water, as the 
remaining acid is always in a diluted state: 
a still larger quantity of carbon is also 
separated, and is mechanically diffused 
through the liquor. The ether, therefore, 
which is the only other product of the ope- 
ration, is to be considered as a compound 
of hydrogen, and carbon, and perhaps oxy- 
gen ; differing from alcohol, in containing 
a much larger quantity of hydrogen pro- 
portioned to its carbon ; and to this pre- 
dominance of hydrogen its great levity and 
volatility are owing. This conclusion is 
confirmed, by its analysis by combustion, 
the products of which are water and car- 
bonic acid; the former being derived from 
the combination of its hydrogen with the 
oxygen of the air, the latter from the same 
combination of its carbon. Mr. Cruick- 
shank found, that the vapour of ether re- 
quires about seven times its volume of 
oxygen to saturate it in combustion; the 
products being water and carbonic acid 
gas, the latter amounting to 4.6 parts by 
measure. From this result, compared with 
a similar experiment on alcohol, he inferred, 
that the proportion of carbon to hydrogen 
in the ether, is as 5 to 1 nearly, while in 
alcohol it is as 8 or 9 to 1. (“ Nicholson’s 
Journal,” 4to, vol. v. p. 205.) 
Besides ether, there are some other pro- 
ducts formed during the action of sulphuric 
acid upon alcohol. Towards the end of the 
process an oily-like matter distils over, 
which has been named Sweet Oil of Wine. 
This can be obtained separate, by changing 
the receiver : it is unctuous, thick, and less 
volatile than the ether, but is soluble both 
in it and in alcohol. It is obtained like- 
