The electrolysis of organic compounds : Papers / by Hermann Kolbe (1845-1868).

  • Kolbe, Hermann, 1818-1884.
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The electrolysis of organic compounds : Papers / by Hermann Kolbe (1845-1868). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    thirds of marsh-gas, and one-third of hydrogen, and moreover, both mixtures contain the same relative amounts of carbon and hydrogen, and consequently consume, not only an equal volume of oxygen in their combustion, but produce the same quantity of carbonic acid ; and hence the facts observed in the electrolysis of acetic acid might lead to the assumption, that the gases evolved in its electrolytical decomposition consist of hydrogen and marsh-gas. With the view of removing all doubt on this point, I have endeavoured to prepare methyl in a state of purity: I availed myself for this purpose, of the de- composing apparatus already described, which allows us to collect with facility the products liberated at either pole. The interior cell containing the platinum plate was closed for this purpose with the cork, which besides the platinum wire for producing contact, contained, moreover, the delivery tube through which the generated gases were evolved, in order to be conducted through two bulb-tubes filled with concentrated solution of potash, and afterwards through a similar vessel containing sulphuric acid (for the absorption of water and acetate of oxide of methyl) and subsequently collected in the gas-holder. After every trace of atmospheric air had been expelled, the collected gas contained, nevertheless, a small quantity of carbonic acid, the two potash bulbs not having been sufficient to absorb the carbonic acid, which had been evolved from the separated cell in much larger proportion than in the former arrangement, because, in the former experiment, the simultaneous liberation of acetic acid at the positive pole effectually prevented the formation of a carbonate. The eudiometrical analysis of the mixture which, as special experiment had proved, did not contain free oxygen, gave the following results : \