SECT. II.] 
PROPERTIES OF STEAM. 
55 
Liquid. 
Specific 
gravity. 
Temperatur 
Át the 
beginning. 
e of the water : 
At the end. 
n the basin. 
Difference. 
Boiling point. 
Heat of con 
version into 
vapour. 
Water 
1-000 
42°-5 
49° * 
6°-5 
212° 
942°- 
Alcohol 
0-825 
42- 
45- 
3- 
175 
425-5 
Sulphuric ether 
0-7 
42- 
44- 
2- 
112 
302-6 
Oil of turpentine 
0-888 
42- 
43-5 
1-5 
316 
146-0 
Petroleum 
0-75 
425 
44- 
1-5 
306 
1500 
Nitric acid 
1-494 
42- 
45-5 
3-5 
165 
517-0 
Ammonia 
0-978 
42- 
47-5 
5-5 
140 
840-0 
Vinegar 
1-007 
42-5 
48-5 
6- 
870-0 
The quantity of water of which the specific heat would be equivalent to the 
heat absorbed by the vessels, Dr. Ure has not given; but in assuming it to be 
about 1660 grains, we shall be not far distant from the truth. Hence we have 
32340 + 1660=34000 for the water equivalent to the specific heat of the cooling 
apparatus ; and by the formula, (art. 75, note) 
~ 6 5 + 49-212 = 942°, for water. 
And 34( ^ x 3 + *65 (175-45) = 425°-5, for alcohol. 
The others being calculated in the same manner, afford the results in the last 
column, taking the specific heat from the usual tables. Through an oversight in 
calculation, Dr. Ure’s numbers in the ‘ Philosophical Transactions ’ are erroneous. 
82. A further correction might be applied for the quantity of steam remaining 
in the retort, and the loss of heat in the operation. Dr. Ure has, in a recent cor 
rection for loss of heat, made the heat of conversion of water into steam 1000 ; and 
under the impression that Count Rumford’s are the most accurate experiments on 
the subject, I am inclined to think this number about right. If for these sources 
of loss we make a further allowance in Dr. Ure’s experiments of the specific heat of 
2000 grains of water, we shall have 
— (K S^ 65 +49-212 = 1007° j 
and correcting the rest of the numbers in this manner, the following are obtained. 1 
Liquid. 
Equal 
weights. 
Equal 
volumes. 
Liquid. 
Equal 
weights. 
Equal 
volumes. 
Water into steam 
1007° 
1007° 
Petroleum into vapour 
165° 
124° 
Alcohol into vapour 
455-5 
375 
Nitric acid into vapour 
552 
830 
Sulphuric ether into vapour 
322-6 
227 
Ammonia into vapour 
895 
875 
Oil of turpentine into vapour 
161-0 
143 
Vinegar into vapour 
930 
936 
1 Ure’s Dictionary of Chemistry, art. Caloric.