Volatile

—Easily pa ing from the liquid into the gaseous state; such as ammonia orether. Substances which affect the smell with pungent or fragrant odors; as musk, hartshorn and e ential oils are called volatile substances, because they waste away on exposure to the atmosphere. Alcohol and ether are called volatile liquids for a similar reason, and because they easily pa into the state of vapor on the application of heat. On the contrary, gold is a fixed substance, because it does not suffer waste, even when exposed to the heat of a furnace; and oils are called fired when they do not evaporate on simple exposure to the atmosphere.