Carbon, Tetrachloride of

Syn. Bichloride of Carbon. It may be obtained by pa ing chlorine (desiccated by being made to pa through a tube wetted with strong sulphuric acid), through a bottle containing bisulphide of carbon, and afterwards through a porcelain tube, wrapped in sheet copper, and filled with fragments of broken porcelain, maintained at a red heat, by a charcoal or gas furnace, and condensing the product in a bottle surrounded by ice. A mixture of tetrachloride of carbon and chloride of sulphur is thus obtained. By shaking this mixture with solution of potash, the chloride of sulphur is decomposed and di olved, whilst the tetrachloride of carbon separates, and falls to the bottom. The upper layer having been poured off, the tetrachloride may be purified by distillation. Tetrachloride of carbon is a colourle liquid, having a sp. gr. 1·6, and boiling at 172° F. It is insoluble in water, but di olves in alcohol and ether. Its vapour, diluted with air, is employed as an anæsthetic.