General Account of tie Nitrous Oxide, 283 



"When n?trous gas is expofed to nafcent hidrogen, whether it be procured "by the 

 action of metals upon water, in common cafes, or in Galvanic experiment9, ammo- 

 niac and nitrous oxide are uniformly produced ; and the volume of the nitrous gas 

 diminifties nearly to the fame extent, as in the procefs with fulphurated hidrogen, /. e. to 

 about one-third. 



Se£t. 3. Nitrous oxide may be procured from nitric acid, when this fubftance is de- 

 compofed by certain metallic bodies; and likewife during the mutual decompofition of 

 nitric acid and ammoniac at certain temperatures. 



a. During the action of zinc, iron, or tin, upon diluted nitric acid, certain quantities 

 of nitrous oxide are produced, but mingled with nitrous gas and nitrogen. In thefe pro- 

 celTes, as has been long known, ammoniac is formed ; and confequently water is decom- 

 •pofed : a cireumftance moft probably connefted with the produiStion of the nitrous oxide ; 

 for the quantity of the gas is lefs in proportion as the acid is more concentrated. 



b. Nitrous oxide,' perfeftly pure, may be obtained in an eafy manner, and at a 

 cheap rate, from the decompofition of nitrate of ammoniac. This fait, when deprived 

 of as much of its water of cryftallization as pofTible, becomes fluid at tiie temper- 

 ature of 320°, Fahrenheit, and immediately begins to be converted into water and 

 nitrous oxide.* 



One hundred grains of fait, perfedly decompofed at any temperature between 320" 

 and 620°, produces about 57 grains of gas, and 43 of fluid. In experiments on this de- 

 compofition the heat muft be carefully applied and regulated ; as at temperatures above 

 800°, nitrate of ammoniac detonates, and becomes changed into nitrous gas, nitric acid, 

 water, and nitrogen. 



III. On the Combinations of Nitraus Oxide. 



Se£l. I. Pure water is capable of holding in folutlon, at the common temperatures of 

 the atmofphcre, a quantity of nitrous oxide equal to about half its volume. \ Water, 

 impregnated with nitrous oxide, has a fweetifh tafte, which is hardly perceptible, except 

 to delicate organs : and it becomes efFervefcent on agitation. It is poflefTed of ho adlion in 

 vegetable colours; and efFcfts no perceptible change in metallic folutions. 



Nitrous oxide is expelled unaltered from water at temperatures equal to about 212". 

 It is likewife incapable of remaining in combination with it, when the preflurc of the 

 atmofphere is removed. 



Nitrous oxide is expelled from water by muriatic add, carbonic acid, and fulphurated 

 hidrogen ; but it has a ftronger affinity for that fluid than nitrous gas, oxigen, or 

 hidrogen, 



• To Mr. Berthollet we owe the difcovery of the produfts evolved during the flow decompofition of 

 'nitrate of ammoniac. See Mem, de Paris, 1785. 

 + Dr, Prieftley's Experiments =and Obfervations, Vol. II, page 81. 



O 2 BeiSl. 



