520 
SECOND REPORT - 1 832 . 
the Austrian states, has discovered two very interesting sub¬ 
stances among the products of the destructive distillation of ve¬ 
getable and animal substances. The first of these—Paraffin, 
{parum — affinis) from the little affinity it has to most bodies—he 
obtained from the heavy tarry matter which is found at the bot¬ 
tom of the receiver in the process for preparing pyroligneous 
acid from beech-wood. This heavy tar is distilled. The first 
portion which comes over is rejected, and a stronger heat ap¬ 
plied. An oily mass is obtained, filled with shining scales. 
Mixed gradually with six or eight times its weight of alcohol 
the paraffin is precipitated, is afterwards washed with and dis¬ 
solved in alcohol, from which it crystallizes in minute scales and 
needles. It is white, shining, soft to the touch and flexible, 
without taste or smell, has a sp. grav. =0*87, melts at 78° F., 
and at a higher temperature may be distilled without change. 
It kindles with difficulty, but burns clearly. It is not acted 
upon by potassium, chlorine, the caustic alkalies, or by acids. 
/Ether dissolves 1*4 time its weight, alcohol only 3*45 per cent, 
of paraffin. It is soluble in oils, and may be melted with sul¬ 
phur, phosphorus, fat, wax, resins, &c. It may be obtained 
from all kinds of wood, and in large quantity. According to the 
analysis of Jules Gay-Lussac, it consists of carbon 85*22, hy¬ 
drogen 14*98 ; or it is C + PI. 
Eupion .—The other product he calls Eupion (su good , %icov 
fat). It exists in all kinds of tar obtained from the distillation 
of animal or vegetable substances. The tar is mixed with an 
equal weight of sulphuric acid, and heated gently, by which 
the greater part of the empyreumatic oil is destroyed, and the 
paraffin and eupion rise to the top. They are decanted, again 
treated with sulphuric acid, nitre added, and three fourths of 
the oil distilled. The eupion passes over, and a mixture of 
eupion and paraffin remains in the retort. The oil in the re¬ 
ceiver is treated with sulphuric acid and caustic potash as long 
as they are coloured ; after which it is distilled with water and 
rendered hydrous by exposure to sulphuric acid in vacuo. 
When pure, potassium has no action upon it; it is colourless, 
transparent, without taste or smell, remarkably fluid, has a sp.gr. 
of 0*74 at 71°*5 F., remains liquid at — 4° F., boils at 336° F., 
and distills without change. It is a non-conductor of electricity, 
and so remarkably expansible, that from 66° F. to its boiling- 
point it expands one fifth of its volume. It kindles with diffi¬ 
culty alone, but with a wick it gives a clear flame without smoke 
or soot. It dissolves without combination—sulphur, phospho¬ 
rus, selenium, chlorine, bromine, and iodine. It is insoluble in 
water ; alcohol dissolves it in large quantity, and aether five times 
