*Si 



EXPLOSIVE COMPOUND. 



Effects of sub- Suh#tances brought into contact 



- 



brought into 



contact with 



»ho explosive 

 compound. 



Remark upon 

 the table, and 

 the general 

 effects. 



with tlic explosive compound. 



Azotic gas. 

 Atmospheric air. 

 Nitrous gas. 



Effects observed. 



Do. precipitation of arsenic. 

 Do. 



Do. violent explosion, blue 

 .flame. 



Combustibles 

 act most 

 strongly on the 

 compound. 



The effects ap- 

 pear to arise 

 from dense 

 chlorine. 



Camphor, &e. 

 ynite without 

 decomposi- 

 tion. 



No action 

 with saturated 

 bodies. 



Animal sub- 

 stances have 

 l;**s action 

 than vegeta- 

 ble. 



Soaps, by 

 double de- 



In performing the experiments, the results of which are 

 stated in the preceding table, our intention was not to investi- 

 gate minutely the changes produced in the substances made to 

 act on etch other, but to acquire a knowledge of the principal 

 and most obvious effects of the explosive compound on a va- 

 riety of bodies. This, we trust that we have accomplished ; 

 :'.nd, in so doing, have discovered some curious and interesting 

 facts j amongst which the following appear to be most deserving 

 of notice. 



1st. The class of bodies which act on the explosive compound 

 with the most energy, are those which are termed combustible 

 bodies. There are, however, some few exceptions to this re- 

 mark, instanced in the want of action of ether and of alcohol. 



2d. That (here is a considerable analogy between the action 

 of the explosive compound, and that of the chlorine and eu- 

 chlorine, separated in a condensed state by strong sulphuric acid, 

 from the salt, known by the name of the oxymuriate of potash j 

 which, like the explosive compound, inflames volatile oils, 

 caoutchouc, phosphorus ammonia, &c. And that most of the 

 effects of the explosive compound are attributable to chlorine 

 in a condensed state, and in weak chemical union. 



3d. That" there are some combustible bodies which will 

 unite without decomposition, with the explosive compound, of 

 which camphor is a remarkable instance. 



4th. That when a combustible body is previously saturated 

 with chlorine, its action on the explosive compound is either 

 annihilated or much weakened. 



5th. That animal substances in general appear to act with 

 less energy on the explosive compound, than their analogous 

 vegetable substances. The want of action of adepocire, of 

 spermaceti, of butter, and of lard, are striking proofs of the 

 truth of this assertion. 



6th. That there is a remarkable difference in the actions on 

 the compound of the several soaps formed by douhle decom- 

 position 



