1166.    GAUTIER, A.  [Action of Carbon Monoxide on Steam at Red Heat, and Action of Hydrogen on Carbon Dioxide.]  Bull. Soc. Chim., vol. 35, 1906, pp. 929-934; Compt. Rend., vol. 142, 1906, pp. 1382-1387; Jour. Soc. Chem. Ind. (London), vol. 25, 1906, p. 1145; Chem. Abs., vol. 1, 1906, p. 274.

       Boudouard (see abs. 321) determined the ratio, CO:CO₂ in the equilibrium between CO, steam, CO₂, and H₂ at different temperatures; and Hahn (see abs. 1310)

                                                  COXH₂O 

determined the coefficient, K= CO₂XH₂, at different temperatures.  The author shows that, when a current of CO, mixed with a varying excess of steam, is passed through a porcelain tube heated to 1,200°-1,250° C. at the rate of about 1 liter of the mixed gases per hr., or when a dry mixture of equal volumes of CO₂ and H₂ is similarly treated at 1,300°, the reaction proceeds until the volume of H₂ is about double that of CO.  The reactions correspond with the equations:  3CO+3 H₂O=CO+H₂O+2 H₂+2CO₂.  #CO₂+3 H₂=CO+H₂O+2 H₂+2 CO₂.  Under these conditions, any mixture of CO, steam, H₂, and CO₂ tends toward the composition, CO+H₂O+2H₂+2 CO₂.  Small quantities of formic acid, but no formaldehyde, are produced.  These results are discussed with reference to the composition of volcanic gases, and attention is directed to the occurrence of formic acid in certain hot mineral springs.