Methane: Sodium Acetate Heated with Calcined Soda and Lime (Thorpe, 1912)

Marsh gas the laboratory way (Schorlemmer): sodium acetate is heated in an iron or copper vessel with a mixture of equal volumes of calcined soda and powdered lime. Methane comes off, with some hydrogen and ethylene; the ethylene is taken out with sulphuric acid. Methane is colourless and odourless and forms an explosive mixture with air ('firedamp'). Not given: how much sodium acetate to the soda and lime, the heat, the acid strength. Source: T. E. Thorpe, Dictionary of Applied Chemistry vol. III (1912), p. 483. Picture: the book's text.