I passed about 150 strong shocks from a small Leyden phial, through 7 ten grain measures of pure nitrous oxide. After this it filled a space rather less than six measures: the mercury was rendered white on the top, as if it had been acted on by nitric acid. Six measures of nitrous gas mingled with the residual gas of the experiment, over mercury covered by a little water, gave red fumes, and rapid diminution. In five minutes the volume of the gases nearly equalled ten. Thermometer in this experiment was 58°.
Electric sparks were passed for an hour and half through 7 ten grain measures of nitrous oxide over mercury covered with a little red cabbage juice, previously saturated with nitrous oxide, and rendered green by an alkali. After the process the gas filled a space equal to rather more than six measures and half, and the juice was become of a pale red. The gas was introduced into a small tube filled with pure water, and agitated; no absorption was perceptible: 7 measures of nitrous gas added to it gave red fumes, and after six minutes a diminution to 9¼ nearly. 6½ measures of common air from the garden, with 7 of nitrous gas, gave exactly 9.
In this experiment it was evident that nitrous oxide was converted into a gas analogous to atmospheric air, at the same time that an acid was formed. There could be little doubt but that this was the nitrous acid. To ascertain it, however, with greater certainty, the electric spark was passed through 6 measures of nitrous oxide, over a little solution of green sulphate of iron, confined by mercury. As the process went on, the color of the solution became rather darker. When the diminution was complete, a little prussiate of iron was added to the solution. A precipitate of pale blue prussiate of potash was produced.
c. Nitrous oxide was passed from decomposing nitrate of ammoniac, through a porcelain tube well glazed inside and outside, strongly ignited in an air-furnace, and communicating with the water apparatus. The gas collected was rendered opaque by dense red vapor. It appeared wholly unabsorbable by water. After the precipitation of its vapor, a candle burnt in it with nearly the same brilliancy as in atmospheric air. 20 measures of it that had been agitated in water immediately after its production, mingled with 40 measures of nitrous gas, diminished to about 47.5; whereas 20 measures that had remained unagitated for some time after their generation, introduced to the same quantity of nitrous gas, gave nearly 49. 20 measures of atmospheric air, with 40 of the same nitrous gas, were condensed to 46.
The water with which the gas had been in contact, was strongly acid. A little of it poured into a solution of green sulphate of iron, and then mingled with prussian alkali, produced a green precipitate. Hence the acid it contained was evidently nitrous.
That no source of error could have existed in this experiment from fissure in the tube, I proved, by sending water through it whilst ignited, after the process, from the same retort in which the nitrate of ammoniac had been decomposed; a few globules of air only were produced, not equal to one tenth of the volume of the water boiled, and which were doubtless previously contained in it.
I have repeated this experiment two or three times, with similar results; whenever the air was agitated in water immediately after its production, it gave almost the same diminution with nitrous gas as common air; when, on the contrary, it has been suffered to remain for some time in contact with the phlogisticated nitrous acid suspended in it, the condensation has been less with nitrous gas by five or six hundred parts. Hence I am inclined to believe, that if it were possible to condense all the nitrous acid formed, immediately after its generation, so as to prevent it from absorbing oxygene from the permanent gas, this gas would be found identical with the air of the atmosphere.
The changes effected by fire on nitrous oxide are not analogous to those produced by it in other bodies; for the power of this agent seems generally uniform, either in wholly separating the constituent principles of bodies from each other, or in making them enter into more intimate union.[169]
It is a singular phænomenon, that whilst it condenses one part of the oxygene and nitrogene of nitrous oxide, in the form of nitrous acid; it should cause the remainder to expand, in the state of atmospheric air. Does not this fact afford an inference in favor of the chemical composition of atmospheric air?
III. Decomposition of Nitrous Oxide by Hydrogene,
at the temperature of Ignition.