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PREPARATION  OF  HEAVY  OIL  OF  WINE. 
ON  THE  PREPARATION  OF  HEAVY  OIL  OF  WINE. 
By  J.  M.  Maisch. 
The  formation  of  ether  from  sulphuric  acid  and  alcohol  has 
led  many  chemists  to  study  the  effects  of  this  acid  on  a  limited 
quantity  of  alcohol ;  and  many  researches  are  recorded;  detail- 
ing the  results  obtained  with  the  condensable  and  incondensa- 
ble portion  of  the  distillate,  and  with  the  residue  left  in  the 
retort.  The  condensable  portion  of  the  distillate  consists  of  alco- 
hol, if  an  excess  of  it  has  been  used,  ether,  water,  heayy  oil  of 
wine,  and  a  little  acetic  acid ;  and  contains  a  considerable 
quantity  of  sulphurous  acid  in  solution.    It  is  evident  that  the 
temperature  must  have  a  great  influence  on  the  relative  pro- 
portion of  these  products,  and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  but  few 
observations  on  this  point  have  been  made. 
Kuhlmann  states  that  equal  parts  of  alcohol  and  sulphuric 
acid,  heated  to  165°  G.  (329°  F.)  yield  ether  and  water ;  above 
that  point  water,  sulphurous  acid,  elayl,  oil  of  wine,  and  a  little 
acetic  acid.    (Ann.  d.  Pharm.,  xxxiii.  217.) 
Marchand  (Jour.  f.  pr.  Chem.,  xv.  13,)  obtains  from  the  same 
mixture,  between  120  and  165°  C,  (248  and  329°  F.)  alcohol, 
ether,  and  water  :  betweenl50  and  160°  C.  ether  and  water  only ; 
between  160  and  165°  C.  (320  and  329°  F.,)  elayl,  sulphurous 
and  carbonic  acid,  and  a  little  ether,  which  disappears  altogether 
above  175°  (347°  F.),  leaving  only  the  gases,  water,  and  heavy 
oil  of  wine,  as  the  products  of  distillation. 
By  passing  the  vapors  of  absolute  alcohol  through  sulphuric 
acid,  kept  at  160°  C.  (220°  F.)  Lose  (Poggend.  Annalen,  xlvii. 
619,)  obtained  elayl  and  sulphurous  acid  gas,  water,  and  heavy 
oil  of  wine.  The  retort  contains  sulphuric,  isethionic,  and 
thiomelanic  acids. 
Mitscherlich  (1ST.  Ann.  d.  Chem.  und  Phys.,  vii.  12,)  passed 
through  a  mixture  of  10  p.  sulphuric  acid  and  3  p.  water,  which 
boils  between  160  and  165°  C,  the  vapors  of  80  per  ct.  alcohol, 
whereby  this  latter  was  almost  completely  decomposed  into 
water  and  elayl  (olefiant  gas),  containing  but  little  alcohol  and 
traces  of  ether ;  the  residue  in  the  retort  was  colorless. 
If  the  results  of  the  experiments  of  Lose  and  Mitscherlich 
are  compared,  we  are  struck  at  once  with  the  great  difference 
produced  by  the  presence  of  water  in  the  sulphuric  acid  and 
