OF THE DESTEUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF BOGHEAD COAL. 
453 
Atmospheric pressure . . 772'1 mm. 
Difference of mercury level . 85 ’4 mm. 
Density of vapour .... 2 ‘956 
The formula C‘^ H^^=4 volumes requires — 
12 volumes carbon vapour. . 0'8290 . 12 = 9‘948 
28 volumes hydrogen . . . 0-0692 . 28=1-938 
11-886 
~4 
Experiment. Theory. 
2-956 2-972 
2-972. 
The substance unacted on by acids boiling at 65°, as extracted from the Torbane-hill 
mineral distillate, has therefore not only the composition, but also the vapour-density 
of the radical of the propylic series. I shall show, further on, that its boihng-point also 
coincides with what might be expected. It is evident that propyle might be procured by 
electrolysis of butyric acid, and I propose eventually to subject the hydrocarbons from 
both sources to a careful comparison. It may be mentioned that propyle has not pre- 
viously been obtained. Its density at 18° was found to be 0-6745. 
Nitrocompound from fraction hoilmg between 66° and 71°. 
This substance, which, it has been said, floated on water while holding the radical in 
solution, was much heavier than that fluid after the hydrocarbon had been distilled off. 
Treated with alcoholic potash great heat was produced, the solution becoming blood-red, 
and a peculiar odour being evolved. The mixture was placed in an iron alembic, and 
the alcohol distilled off on the water-bath ; the latter was then removed, and the distil- 
lation continued over the naked Are. An abundance of milky fluid containing an alka- 
loid came over, accompanied by a small quantity of non-basic oil. At last an explosive 
evolution of vapour ensued ; the chief portion of the contents of the alembic being pro- 
jected into the neck, and there becoming solidifled, stopped the distillation. The non- 
basic oil was removed by addition of hydrochloric acid to dissolve the base, and then 
passing through a wet Alter. The undissolved portion solidified on the filter to a mass 
of golden-brown crystals having the characters of azobenzide. A large quantity of 
aniline was found iu the basic portion of the distillate. The nitrocompound contained, 
therefore, a considerable amount of nitrobenzole. The study of the nitrocompounds and 
their products is reserved for a future communication. 
Butyle. 
The following experiments were the first made with the radicals from Boghead 
naphtha, but are placed here in their proper sequence with regard to the other homo- 
logues. 
It has been found that the separation of the hydrocarbons can be effected by other 
