76 
OLEAGINOUS  MATTER  FROM  IRON. 
supposition  that  the  iron  combines  directly  with  the  nascent 
hydrogen  forming  the  oil,  and,  indeed,  does  more,  for  its  non- 
formation  tends  to  confirm,  if  such  were  necessary,  the  opinion  of 
Dr.  Cameron,  formerly  expressed  in  this  Journal,  that  such  a 
compound  as  ferruretted  hydrogen  does  not  exist. 
2.  In  answering  the  second  question,  it  was  essential  to  ob- 
tain iron  containing  some  carbon  in  combination  ;  this  I  pre- 
pared as  follows : — Carburetted  hydrogen  in  a  pure  state  was 
passed  over  the  iron  of  Experiment  1,  heated  to  redness  ;  the 
action  was  allowed  to  go  on  for  half  an  hour.  In  this  way  I 
obtained  iron  containing  carbon — in  fact,  cast  iron.  This 
compound,  when  dissolved  in  acids,  gave  the  oil  in  such 
quantity  as  to  allow  of  its  being  identified  with  the  greatest 
ease.  This  experiment  proves  with  certainty  that  carbon  is 
essential  to  the  existence  of  the  oil,  though,  of  course,  it  does 
not  furnish  us  with  any  information  as  to  whether  the  elements 
of  water  enter  into  its  constitution  or  not.  This  can  only  be 
found  by  its  ultimate  analysis. 
3.  The  third  point  to  be  considered  in  connection  with  this 
subject  is,  whether  or  not  nitrogen  gives  rise  to  any  oil.  To 
determine  this,  another  portion  of  the  iron  of  Experiment  1  was 
submitted  to  the  action  of  dry  ammoniacal  gas  for  nearly  two  hours 
and  a  half,  by  which  means  it  became  highly  nitrogenised  (as 
was  proved  by  the  abundant  evolution  of  ammonia  on  heating 
in  an  atmosphere  of  hydrogen).  This  body,  when  treated  with 
dilute  sulphuric  acid,  which  readily  attacks  it,  does  not,  when  so 
acted  on,  give  the  least  trace  of  oleaginous  matter.  Of  this  I 
have  satisfied  myself ;  but,  instead,  a  solution  of  ammoniacal 
sulphate  is  produced. 
To  sum  up,  then,  my  experiments  show  the  following : — 
1.  Pure  iron  does  not  yield  the  oil. 
2.  Iron  containing  carbon  does  give  the  oil. 
3.  Iron  containing  nitrogen  does  not  furnish  the  oleaginous 
matter. 
So  far  for  the  origin  of  this  curious  body  :  it  now  remains 
for  me  to  determine  by  analysis  its  composition,  &c.  On  this 
subject  I  am  actively  engaged  at  present,  and  hope  to  turn  to 
some  account  the  experimental  results  which  I  have  arrived  at 
