EXPLOSIVE COMPOUND OF CHLORINE AND AZOTE. 1 35 



Now, if we suppose the two portions of gas, after the action 

 ' of the phosphorus, to be in the same state, i.e. to be phos- 

 phuretied azotic gas, each containing, with respect to their vo- 

 lume, the same proportions of phosphorus, it will not be ne- 

 cessary, for the following calculation, to make any correction 

 for the augmentation in bulk occasioned by the phosphorus j 

 and as the circumstances of temperature and pressure were the 

 same with both, neither will any conections be necessary for 

 those circumstances — we may, therefore, consider the com- 

 parative volumes of azotic gas produced in the two experi- 

 ments, as represented by 66 and 130, and their difference as 

 64, being the excess of azotic gas produced over the ammoniacal 

 solution. If we multiply this by 3, (the volume of chlo* 

 rine gas necessary to produce 1 part of azotic gas from am- 

 monia) we shall have 1*92, v which will represent as gas the 

 quantity of chlorine in one of the globules. And the quantity 

 of azote, brought to the state of gas from the other, being, , .l 

 according to the first experiment, 066, makes the composition Deduction 

 of the explosive compound to be nearly three parts of chlorine that the new 

 gas to one of azotic gas, condensed to a degree which we contained 

 have not yet estimated. three parts 



We do not state this analysis as deserving much confidence — andone azote 

 it must be frequently repeated before we can put any faith in 

 it ourselves. 



Our principal motive in describing the above experiment, be- 

 fore we have had an opportunity of repeating it, is to shew an 

 easy and practicable mode of analysing the compound. 



It may be proper now to describe some of the physical pro- physical pro- 

 perties of the explosive compound. perties of the 



Its colour is that of bees' wax ; it is very fluid ; it sinks, compound. 



although with extreme slowness, in a solution of red sulphate Colour like 



of iron of the specific gravity of 1 '578. Hence we conclude, very flu"-* 



that it must be of the specific gravity of about 1-6. It disap- sp. grav.i-6; 



pears after some time, even under the surface of water, or of *°™ s . d ^H" 



the solution in which it was formed j but evaporates almost evaporable" ; 



instantaneously when exposed to the air j it then diffuses its sm ^ u offensive 



7 ' , , , v and noxious, 



peculiar and penetrating odour through the surrounding atmos- but less so 



phere, which th.n affects the eyes in a very painful manner, than of chlo- 



causing them to ihed tears. Its action on the lungs, however, 



we conceive to be much milder and less prejudicial .than that of 



Vol. XXXLV.— No, 158. O chlorine 



