1168. GAUTIER, A., AND CLAUSMANN, P. [Action of Iron and Its Oxides at Red Heat on Carbon Monoxide.] Compt. rend., vol. 151, 1910, pp. 16-22; Chem. Zentralb., 1910, II, p. 729; Chem. Abs., vol. 5, 1911, p. 53.

1168. GAUTIER, A., AND CLAUSMANN, P. [Action of Iron and Its Oxides at Red Heat on Carbon Monoxide.] Compt. Rend., vol. 151, 1910, pp. 16-22; Chem. Zentralb., 1910, II, p. 729; Chem. Abs., vol. 5, 1911, p. 53.

Action of CO on Fe yields C, carbides, and CO₂. If the oxides are mixed with Fe, CO₂, free C and several carbides of which the most probable are Fe₁₂C and Fe₅C – the former more easily attacked by H₂SO₄ – are formed. The action of acids upon the carbides thus formed gave CH₄, H₂, and a small amount of petroleum compounds. The action of steam at red heat upon the carbides formed as above was studied for its bearing on geological problems. There were formed at 500°-600° and at 800°-900°: H₂, 98.23 and 23.17; CH₄, 1.77 and 3.44; CO, 0.00 and 65.10; and CO₂, 0.00 and 8.33. It is believed that the high pressures within the earth’s crust would also produce the cyclic hydrocarbons of petroleum.