Page:Experimental researches in chemistry and.djvu/178

1825.] cubic inches would be deduced as 93 grains; and its specific gravity to hydrogen as 44 to 1. Hence probably the reason why, experimentally, the specific gravity of bicarburet of hydrogen in vapour was found higher than by theory it would appear to be when pure.

Sulphuric acid acted much more powerfully upon this substance than upon the bicarburet; great heat was evolved, much discoloration occasioned, and a separation took place into a thick black acid, and a yellow lighter liquid, resisting any further action at common temperatures.

0.64 grain of this substance was passed over heated oxide of copper: 4.51 cubic inches of carbonic acid gas were obtained, and 0.6 grain of water. The carbonic acid and water are equivalent to—

but as the substance must have contained much bicarburet of hydrogen, it is evident that, if in a pure state, the carbon would fall far short of the above quantity, and the compound would approximate of course to a simple carburet of hydrogen containing single proportionals.

New Carburet of Hydrogen.—Of the various other products from the condensed liquor, the next most definite to the bicarburet of hydrogen appears to be that which is most volatile. If a portion of the original liquid be warmed by the hand or otherwise, and the vapour which passes off be passed through a tube at 0°, very little uncondensed vapour will go on to the mercurial trough; but there will be found after a time a portion of Enid in the tube, distinguished by the following properties. Though a liquid at 0°, it upon slight elevation of temperature begins to boil, and before it has attained 32° is all resolved into vapour or gas, which may be received and preserved over mercury.

This gas is very combustible, and burns with a brilliant flame. The specific gravity of the portion I obtained was between 27 and 28, hydrogen being I; for 39 cubic inches introduced into an exhausted glass globe were found to increase its weight 22.4 grains at 60° F., bar. 29°94'. Hence 100 cubic inches weigh nearly 57.44 grains.