2750.     ---------------.  [PRING, J. N., AND FAIRLIE, D. M.]  Synthesis of Hydrocarbons at High Temperatures.  Proc. Chem. Soc., vol. 27, 1911, p. 217; Jour. Chem. Soc., vol. 99, 1911, pp. 1796-1811; Chem. Abs., vol. 6, 1912, p. 629.

        When pure C in the form of a rod is electrically heated in an atmosphere of H₂ at 1,200°.  CH₄ and C₂H₄ are formed, the rate of formation of C₂H₄ being about 0.01 that of the CH₄.  No C₂H₂ could be detected.  Measurements made of the rate at which C₂H₂ and C₂H₄ react with H₂ to give CH₄ show that enough time was not allowed in the above experiments for any large interaction of C₂H₄ and C₂H₂ with H₂ to occur, so that the formation of the hydrocarbons must have been direct.  At 1,400° and at pressures 10-40 cm. CH₄ and C₂H₂ are obtained, the ratio of their rate of formation being about 10:1.  At 1,650° CH₄, C₂H₄, and C₂H₂ are obtained; and, as at higher temperatures, the quantity of C₂H₄ is about twice that of the C₂H₂.  Pd in contact with the C assists catalytically the formation of CH₄ to the same degree as Pt, while Si has no appreciable effect.  AS the presence of a highly charged electric field makes no difference in the rate of formation of CH₄ at 1,200°-1,600°, no complication is produced in the reaction by ionization from heated C.  The formation of C₂H₄, which has not before been observed at these temperatures, can be detected at 1,200° and 1,400°; it is comparable with the CH₄ formed.