Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 January 2013
In determining the solubility of salts and other bodies in alcohol, it is desirable to operate with a spirit wholly free from water. But anhydrous or absolute alcohol is formed with difficulty, even by the most improved process—that of Richter. In rectifying alcohol from chloride of calcium, as recommended by Richter, I have never obtained it under the specific gravity 0.798 at the temperature of 60°, by a single distillation; but upon rectifying this product again from new chloride of calcium, I generally succeeded in reducing it to 0.796, which is the specific gravity of the standard alcohol of that chemist. The following experiment illustrates this process.
page 179 note * Care should be taken that the temperature be nearly equable during the experiment; otherwise, when the atmosphere becomes cold, a condensation of alcohol vapour takes place upon the cooled bell-glass, which runs down upon the plate of the pump. The experiment, therefore, should not be performed in a room with a fire, or near a window, but in a dark closet or press. From the manner in which I performed the experiment, this condensation had never been experienced by myself: but Dr Duncan junior observed it, on repeating the process.