VI. Action of aëriform Nitrous Oxide in the Alkalies.
History of the discovery of the combinations
of Nitrous Oxide with the Alkalies.
a. When nitrous oxide in a free state is exposed to the solid caustic alkalies and alkaline earths, at common temperatures, it is neither absorbed nor acted upon; when it is placed in contact with solutions of them in water, a small quantity is dissolved; but this combination appears to depend on the water of the solution, for the gas can be expelled unaltered, at the temperature of ebullition.
b. Caustic potash was exposed to nitrous oxide for 13 hours: the diminution was not to one fiftieth, and this slight condensation most probably depended upon its combination with the water of the gas.
Concentrated solution of potash absorbed a fourth of its bulk of nitrous oxide. When the impregnated solution was heated, globules of gas were given out from it rapidly; but the quantity collected was too small to examine.
Soda, whether solid or in solution, exhibited exactly the same phænomena with nitrous oxide. The solution of soda absorbed near a quarter of its bulk of gas.
c. 11 measures of ammoniacal gas were mingled with 8 measures of nitrous oxide over dry mercury, both of the gases being saturated with water. No change of appearance was produced by the mixture, and they filled, after two minutes, a space equal to 19. On the introduction of a little water, the ammoniac was absorbed, and the nitrous oxide remained unaltered, for it was dissolved by water as rapidly as if it had never been mingled with ammoniac.[155]
7 measures of nitrous oxide, exposed to 6 measures of solution of ammoniac in water, was in an hour diminished to 4½ nearly. When the solution was heated over mercury, permanent gas was produced, which was unabsorbable by a minute quantity of water, and soluble in a large quantity; consequently it was nitrous oxide.
d. Nitrous oxide was exposed to dry caustic strontian; it underwent a diminution of nearly one fortieth, which most likely was owing to the combination of the strontian with its water.
11 measures of nitrous oxide were agitated in contact with 8 of strontian lime water: nearly 4 measures were absorbed. The impregnated solution exposed to heat, rapidly gave out its gas; 3 measures were soon collected, which mingled with a small quantity of hydrogene, and inflamed by the taper, gave a smart detonation.
e. Nitrous oxide exposed to lime and argil, both wet and dry, was not in the slightest degree acted upon.