Page:Experimental researches in chemistry and.djvu/149

134 manner, a liquid has been observed to deposit from it. It is not, however, a result of the liquefaction of the gas, but the deposition of a vapour (using the terms gas and vapour in their common acceptation) from it, and when taken out of the vessel it remains a liquid at common temperatures and pressures, may be purified by distillation in the ordinary way, and will even bear a temperature of 170° F. before it boils at ordinary pressure. It is the substance referred to by Dr. Henry in the 'Philosophical Transactions,' 1821, p. 159.

There is no reason for believing that oil-gas, or olefiant gas, has as yet been condensed into a liquid, or that it will take that form at common temperatures under a pressure of live, or ten, or even twenty atmospheres. If it were possible, a small, safe, and portable gas-lamp would immediately offer itself to us, which might be filled with liquid without being subject to any greater force than the strength of its vapour, and would afford an abundant supply of gas as long as any of the liquid remained. Immediately upon the condensation of cyanogen, which takes place at 50° Fahr. at a pressure under four atmospheres, I made such a lamp with it. It succeeded perfectly; but, of course, either the expense of the gas, the faint light of its flame, or its poisonous qualities, would preclude its application. But we may, perhaps, without being considered extravagant, be allowed to search in the products of oil, resins, coal, &c., distilled or otherwise treated, with this object in view, for a substance, which being a gas at common temperatures and pressure, shall condense into a liquid, by a pressure of from two to six or eight atmospheres, and which being combustible, shall afford a lamp of the kind described.

Atmospheric Air.—As my object is to draw attention to the results obtained in the liquefaction of gases before the date of those described in the 'Philosophical Transactions' for 1823, I need not, perhaps, refer to the notice given in the 'Annals of Philosophy] N. S. vi. 66, of the supposed liquefaction of atmospheric air, by Mr. Perkins, under a pressure of about 1100 atmospheres; but as such a result would be highly interesting, and is the only additional one on the subject I am acquainted with, I am desirous of doing so, as well also to point