iyo ^ftv Puhttcaftonf, 



parts of oxygen ; that hk^e being combined with caloric, tti 

 this ftate it is not foluble in water; but if you furnifh it with . 

 a third part of oxvgen, by combining with that cxcefs, it 

 becomes acid, and very foKible in water; If in one part 

 therefore of atot there are only two ports of oxygen, it \9 

 merely a nitrous tjxyd ; which is the bafe of nitrous gas ; if 

 there are three parts of oxygen^ it forms fuming nitrous 

 acid; if there be four parts, the rcfuh is white nitric acid; 

 Thefe two Lift compounds arc acid, and perfeclly foluble iri 

 water ; the flr(l is neither acid nor foluble. * 



" It may eafily be (liOwn, both by analyfis and fynthcfis^ 

 that the bafc of the nitrous lacid is Jizot combined with 

 oxygen, but not to faturation, which would make it nitric 

 acid, lit. By analvfis. Nitrous acid niay be dccompofed 

 by making it ac^ on fome metal (copper, for example) which 

 takes from it a part of its oxygen, and reduces it to the ftate 

 of nitrous gas ; if you then cxpofe this nitrous gas over art 

 alkaline fulphuret which will deprive it of the reft of its 

 oxygen, nothing will remain but lazotic gas, therefore, &c,- 

 2d, By fynihefis. Mr. Cavendifli formed nitrous acid by 

 expofmg feven parts of pure air and three of azotic gas to 

 the a£tion of the electric iluid 5 the azot combined with 

 the oxvgen of the pure air, and the refult was nitrous acid i 

 the bafe of nitrous gas therefore is azot combined with 

 oxygen , 



** Nitrous gas therefore may be obtai'^ed from the nitrous 

 or nitric acid, m;ule to acl on combuftible matters. Thefe' 

 matters ^combine with a greater or lefs portion of the oxygen 

 of the acid, while the azot, which retains a p?.rt of the 

 oxygen by combining with caloric, forms nitrous gas, which 

 paffes into the bell placed to receive it. The fubftances pro- 

 per for this purpofe are iron, copper, brafs, tin, filver^ mer- 

 cury, bifmuth, and nickel. It may be extracted alfo by 

 means of gold and antimony {lom the nitric acid, which 

 makes a component part in the niuo-muriatrk acid employed 

 to dtlTolve tbefe metals. It may he extracted alfo from the 

 i^itKuus acid, by making it to a6t oa alcohol, ettier, oils^ 

 f«iinB, gnms^ charcoal, fugar, 8cc. 



" By whatever iubltaaice extruded, its properties are the 



fame ^ 



