240 
SELECTED ARTICLES. 
or disagreeable odor; resembling, somewhat, very weak 
alcohol, it had no taste, or acid, or alkaline reaction; submit- 
ted for some time to ebullition, with concentrated sulphuric 
acid, it was not discolored. The nitrate of silver did not 
produce, even with the aid of boiling, any cloud or color; 
treated by a hot solution of chloride of gold, there was no 
reduction of the metal; however much it might be heated 
beforehand, the approach of flame did not cause combustion. 
It was formed principally of water, holding in solution a 
trace of alcohol ; for, when an excess of dry carbonate of 
potassa was added, a thin film of alcohol formed on the sur- 
face, which easily inflamed on the approach of a light. As 
this liquid does not form saline combinations with any base, it 
does not merit the name of an acid; but a different result is 
obtained by using platinum black for the combustion, or 
incomplete oxidation, in place of this asbestus lamp, or of pla- 
tinum sponge. It then produces, as other chemists have for 
a long while remarked, a true acidification; but the acid pro- 
duct is of a different nature from those obtained by the aid 
of the apparatus of M. Bottger from sulphuric, acetic, and 
nitrous ethers; the odor alone is sufficient to point out the 
difference. 
B. — The acid from Sulphuric Ether. 
The liquid obtained from sulphuric ether, of the specific 
gravity of .7251, weighed 1.027. It is without color and 
has a very acid reaction. Its odor is extremely pungent, 
strongly affecting the olfactory nerves and the eyes, espe- 
cially if slightly heated. The solutions of nitrate of silver 
and chloride of gold do not trouble it; but after boiling for 
some time, the silver and gold are reduced, covering (the 
gold especially) the whole interior surface of the vessel with 
a polished metallic film. If it be boiled with a solution of 
chloride of platinum, the reduction of the platinum is perceived 
but at a few spots on the internal surface of the vessel; but 
this reduction takes place almost instantaneously, if, while 
heating, a few drops of liquid ammonia be added; all the 
