186 EXPLOSIVE COMPOUND OF CHLORINE AND AZOTE. 



chlorine gas, as we have experienced very little inconvenience 

 in this respect from standing close to a solution, from the sur- 

 face of which the compound was diffusing itself into the 

 atmosphere. 

 Very volatile, The volatility of the compound is so great, as to present a 

 kepthui dose cons iderable obstacle to preserving it j we have, however, 

 vessel. found, that by limiting the quantity of air or of 'fluid which can 



come into contact with it, and at the same time preventing the 

 escape of vapour by pressure, it can be kept for any length of 

 time. We have accomplished this by introducing the com- 

 pound into small tubes, closed at one end, about nine inches 

 long, being first filled with some of the solution. The com- 

 pound should occupy at least half an inch from the bottom of 

 the tube, and some of the solution should afterwards be taken 

 out to leave room for a little air, and to allow of the open end 

 of the tube being hermetically sealed before the blowpipe. 

 When any of these tubes are afterwards broken, the escape of 

 compressed vapour is so considerable, as to occasion a loud re- 

 port. 

 Difficult to In our first experiments with the explosive compound, we 



transfer, be- experienced considerable difficulties in transferring it from one 

 cause so vola- r ° 



tile. vessel to another, as we had no better mode than that of intro- 



ducing into the solution and under the compound, a small 

 spoon of tinned iron ; the motion which this communicated 

 to the compound often carried it to the surface, where it ex- 

 tended itself and disappeared, by dissolving in the atmosphere. 

 In order to remedy this, and other inconveniences attending on 

 this method, we invented a little instrument which we have 

 found to answer our most sanguine expectations j it is formed of 



A small instru- a sma ^ S lass tube > °^ tne size °f a ^ ar S e writing quill, open at 

 went or i;lass one end, and closed at the other, in the manner of a test tube, 

 takiniTiip 1 the Wltn l ^ e exce P tlon °f a small circular hole in the centre, 

 compound. This tube is to be used as a syringe, the piston of which is to be 

 formed of cotton, wound round a piston rod of wocd or cop- 

 per j by raising or depressing which, the explosive compound 

 may be drawn into, or ejected from, the tube with the greatest 

 facility. The peculiar advantages of this instrument are, its 

 taking up the compound with so small a quantity of the solu- 

 tion, and with so much celerity, and its retaining it when h e 



tube 



