Page:Experimental researches in chemistry and.djvu/180

1825.] required six volumes of oxygen, had consumed four of them in producing four of carbonic acid gas, and had occupied the other two by four of hydrogen to form water. Upon which view, four volumes or proportionals of hydrogen =4, are combined with four proportionals of carbon =24, to form one volume of the vapour, the specific gravity of which would therefore be 28. Now this is but little removed from the actual specific gravity obtained by the preceding experiments; and knowing that this vapour must contain small portions of other substances in solution, there appears no reason to doubt that, if obtained pure, it would be found thus constituted.

As the proportions of the elements in this vapour appear to be the same as in olefiant gas, it became interesting to ascertain whether chlorine had the same action upon it as on the latter body. Chlorine and the vapour were therefore mixed in an exhausted retort: rapid combination took place, much heat was evolved, and a liquor produced resembling hydrochloride of carbon, or the substance obtained by the same process from olefiant gas. It was transparent, colourless, and heavier than water. It had the same sweet taste, but accompanied by an after aromatic bitterness, very persistent. Further, it was composed of nearly equal volumes of the vapour and chlorine: it could not therefore be the same as the hydrochloride of carbon from oleiiant gas, since it contained twice as much carbon and hydrogen. It was therefore treated with excess of chlorine in sunlight: action slowly took place, more chlorine combined with the substance, muriatic acid was formed, and ultimately a fluid tenacious triple compound of chlorine, carbon, and hydrogen was obtained; but no chloride of carbon. This is a remarkable circumstance, and assists in showing that though the elements are the same, and in the same proportions as in olefiant gas, they are in a very different state of combination.

The tension of the most volatile part of the condensed oilgas liquid, and indeed of the substance next beneath olefiant gas in elasticity existing in the mixture constituting oil-gas, appears to be equal to about four atmospheres at the temperature of 60°. To ascertain this a tube was prepared, like the