286 



EXPLOSIVE COMPOUND. 



Exp. 2. De- 

 composition 

 by ammonia. 



Exp.i. Dv- 1st Exp. (Barometer 304, thermometer 55°) '625 of a 



by potash? 11 g ram °f the explosive compound was decomposed by solution 

 of potash, in the manner just described j the quantity of gas 

 obtained was '25 of a cubic inch ; phosphous was sublimed in 

 it ; after which operation, and being again cooled, its volume 

 was 245 of a cubic inch ; which being phosphuvetted azotic 

 gas, must be corrected for an increase of volume of ^ 

 by phosphorus in solution. This brings it to 239, which, 

 brought to the mean temperature and pressure, becomes "2447 

 of a cubic inch, being the quantity of azotic gas derived from 

 the compound. 



2d Exp. (Barometer 30*4, thermometer 55°) '625 of a grain 

 of the explosive compound was decomposed by a solution of 

 pure ammonia, diluted with its bulk of water, in the manner 

 before stated. The quantity of gas obtained was '395 of a 

 cubic inch : after subliming phosphorus in it, it was *4l, 

 which, corrected for increase of volume by phosphorus in so- 

 lution, for pressure above the mean, and for temperature below 

 it, becomes '4095 of a cubic inch, being the quantity of azotic 

 gas derived both from the compound, and from* the decomposi- 

 tion of the ammonia by the chlorine of the compound. Then 

 to know how much is derived from the latter source only, we 

 bave only to deduct the quantity ascertained by the first expe- 

 riment, from that ascertained by this experiment. This being 

 done, the remainder is *l648, which remainder, representing 

 three times its volume of chlorine gas, gives *4944 of a cubic 

 inch, as the volume of chlorine gas contained in 625 of a grain 

 of the explosive compound. 

 The quantities The quantity of azotic gas in 625 of a grain of the com- 

 et azotic and p 0Un( j De j n g ascertained by the first experiment, and that of the 

 in the com- chlorine gas in the same weight of the compound being known 

 pound fry tne seconc i experiment, it is obvious, that if the experi- 



ments are accurate, and the compound consists of chlorine and 

 azote only, then the weights of those two gases should exactly 

 correspond with the weight of the compound, viz. *rj25 of a 

 grain. 



But, according to the following calculation, this is not the 

 case. 



Weight 



