Ozone to Hyponitric Acid. 433 



appears to me probable that besides hydrate of nitric acid a 

 peroxide of nitrogen and hydrogen is formed when water acts 

 upon hyponitric acid. Agreeably to my view, the presence 

 ofN0 2 -f H0 2 , in the acid mixture, is the cause why the 

 latter decomposes iodide of potassium, &c. 



I think it cannot be denied that aqueous vapour will act 

 upon vaporous hyponitric acid as liquid water does upon the 

 liquid acid. Such being the case, and supposing that in the 

 latter case two compounds of the formulas N0 4 + H0 2 and 

 N0 2 + H0 2 are produced, it must then be admitted also that 

 the same compounds are formed when the vapours of hypo- 

 nitric acid are mixed with moist atmospheric air. Now if the 

 peroxide of nitrogen and hydrogen (thefirstof thesecompounds) 

 should happen to be a volatile substance, it follows further 

 that in a bottle containing moist air, to which vapour of hypo- 

 nitric acid had been added, an atmosphere must be produced 

 containing some N0 2 -fH0 2 , and possessing the property of 

 causing the reactions above mentioned. The peroxide of 

 hydrogen contained in N0 2 + H0 2 would be the oxidizing 

 agent, decomposing e. g. iodide of potassium, &c. 



For various reasons I am inclined to consider ozone as 

 H0 2 , i. e. a compound isomeric with Thenard's peroxide of 

 hydrogen. Now if this conjecture should be true, and if there 

 should exist a compound of N0 2 + H0 2 , moist atmospheric 

 air being charged with vapour of hyponitric acid would owe 

 its reactions to the presence of ozone. How far such a con- 

 jecture is founded upon facts, the experiments I am about to 

 detail will show. 



If a piece of carbonate of ammonia, having been strongly 

 ozonized by the means of phosphorus, is suspended in atmo- 

 spheric air until the latter be so charged with ammoniacal 

 vapours as rapidly to restore the blue colour of reddened 

 litmus paper, that atmosphere continues to enjoy bleaching 

 powers, decomposes iodide of potassium, colours blue the paste 

 of starch containing that salt, transforms the yellow prussiate of 

 potash into the red one, colours the resin of guaiacum blue, dis- 

 charges the colour of sulphuretof lead ; continues, in one word, 

 to possess all the properties belonging to ozone. Hence it 

 follows that ozone is capable of co-existing with the vapours 

 of carbonate of ammonia without suffering decomposition ; and 

 I have ascertained that pure ammonia also does not perceptibly 

 destroy ozone. Now if there exists N0 2 -f H0 2 , we may pre- 

 sume from its constitution that it will likewise be able to co- 

 exist with the vapours of the carbonate of ammonia, N0 2 being 

 of itself inactive towards ammonia. 



Hyponitric acid, or red fuming nitric acid, was gradually 

 mixed up with so much water as to obtain a colourless liquid. 



