472 MR. G. B, BUCKTON AND DR. A. W. HOFMANN’S RESEARCHES ON THE 
ively of any special view regarding their molecular arrangement, may be represented 
as formed by the association of the hydrocarbons (corresponding to marsh-gas) of the 
various groups with 4 equivalents of anhydrous sulphuric acid;— 
Disulphometholic acid . . . . Cg H4 4SO3 
Disulphetholic acid ..... C4 He 4SO3 
Disulphopropiolic acid . . . . Ce Hg 4SO3 
Disulphobenzolic acid .... CJ2H64SO3 
An acid of analogous composition exists in the naphthalin-series ; — = 
Disulphonaphthalic acid . . . . C20H84SO3, 
which was discovered by Berzelius and subsequently studied by Laurent. 
Many of these substances may actually be produced directly from the hydro- 
carbons by the action of sulphuric acid. On the other hand, chemists are well 
acquainted with the deportment of olefiant gas under the influence of anhydrous 
sulphuric acid. The crystalline compound discovered by Magnus, and described by 
him under the name of Sulphate of Carbyl, whatever its constitution may be, can be 
considered as a direct combination of olefiant gas with four equivalents of anhydrous 
sulphuric acid, 
Sulphate of Carbyl . , , C4H44SO3. 
It can scarcely be doubted that all the other hydrocarbons of the series CjnHan, 
propylene, butylene, amylene, &c., will furnish homologous substanees. 
Sulphate of carbyl, when submitted to the action of water, assimilates two equiva- 
lents, and is converted into a bibasic acid (ethionic), C4H44S03-|-2FI0=C4H6024S03, 
which accordingly may be viewed as an assoeiation of alcohol with four equivalents 
of anhydrous sulphuric acid. Terms analogous to ethionic acid are sure to be found 
when the study of the homologues of sulphate of carbyl shall be taken up by ehemists. 
The production of disulpho-compounds of perfectly similar composition, from 
substances belonging to such different groups of bodies as the hydrocarbons, homolo- 
gous and analogous to marsh-gas, as ethylene, and as alcohol, suggested the possibility 
that the substanees observed might be but individual examples of a far more general 
mode of formation. It became, in fact, probable that all organic bodies, capable of 
uniting with the elements of two equivalents of anhydrous sulphuric acid, might, 
under favourable circumstances, be induced to assimilate two additional equivalents 
of anhydrous sulphuric acid, and thus furnish terms belonging to the class of disul- 
pho-compounds. 
The hope of arriving at a more general interpretation of our observations induced 
us to institute some further inquiries, the result of which we will briefly append. 
The first question which naturally suggested itself, was the examination of the 
deportment of the sulpho-acids derived from acetie, propionic, butyric, benzoic acid, 
&c., under the influence of an excess of sulphuric acid. To take acetic acid as an 
illustration. Is sulphacetic acid, 04^1482010=04^14042803, capable of combining 
