J 84 EXPLOSIVE COMPOUND OF CHLORINE AND AZOTE. 



which muriate is one of the products of the exposure of pure 



ammonia to chlorine gas. 



The results Two different results are obtained from the mutual action of 



tlifFcr with the chlorine and ammonia, depending: on the proportions of the . 



proportions. ... , , . ^, , , 



if the free tvvo bodies presented to each other. llius, when the quantity 



ammonia be G f ammonia present in a free state, is more than the chlorine 

 in excess, r.m- . , ,. , , , r , . . . 



nate of am- S as can decompose and neutralize, the whole of the chlorine 



nionia only is g ns g OCS to the formation of muriate of ammonia, and no ex- 

 azote set See. P^ os ' ve compound is formeJ, but in its stead azotic gas is fennd 

 at the termination of the experiment, equal in volume to one- 

 third of that of the chlorine gas employed. Thus the only 

 products of the experiment, under these circumstances, are 

 the muriatic acid of the muriate of ammonia, and the azotic 

 gas. 

 But when the But when the quantity of chlorine gas present is more 



chlorine Raa than is necessary to brine the ammonia to a neutral state : or, 



is in excess, J ° 



the last-men- •which is still better, when the ammonia has been previously 



tioned azote is neutralized by an acid, the azote, instead of remaining after 

 employed in . . . „ . r \ . , 7 , . 



forming the the experiment in a state of gas, is found combined with the 



compound. superabundant chlorine, forming the explosive compound. 



Thus the products of the experiment, conducted in this way, 



are, the muriatic acid which remains in the solution, and the 



explosive compound. 



In the case first stated, the chlorine combines with one of 



the elements of the ammonia only, viz. the hidrogen ; in that 



last described, it combines with both, viz. the hidrogen a:, 1 the 



azote. 



Experiment ^ e sna ^ ^ ere re ^ ate an experiment made with the intention 



on the pro- of ascertaining the proportions of chlorine and "azotic gases, 



portions. w hich, in a condensed state, form the explosive compound. 



The com- Two globules of the explosive compound produced from 



pound was e nual quantities of chlorine gas, and apparently of the same 



decomposed i . i ,,, i i- i i • 



by potash and size, were decomposed ; the one by potash dissolved in water, 



also hy am- the other by solution of pure ammonia; the gases from each 



were collected and measured ; that from the first was 0*8 of 



a cubic inch, and that from the last IT. 



Phosphorus was heated in both j in that produced over the 



solution of potash it burnt, and caused its volume to diminish 



to 66; in that produced over the solution of ammonia, it did 



not burn, and caused its volume to increase to 1*3, 



Now, 



