386 IMPURITY IN NITRATE OP AMMONIA. 



Investigation Orbits, becomes a subject that may receive the assistance 

 of the proper of arguments supported by observation, 

 ihotion of the ,,;^ i.,,..,. ,^. t^ 



,un. ^^ ^^^ "^^ been said in a paragraph of a former raper, 



where the sun is placed among the insulated stars *, docs 

 not contradict the present idea of its making one of a 

 rery extensive system. On the contrary, a connection 

 of this nature has been alluded to in the same Papcrf. 

 The insulation ascribed to the sun relates merely to a 

 supposed binary combination with some neighbouring 

 »tar; and it has now been proved by an example of Arc-i 

 turns, that the solar motion cannot be occasioned or 

 accounted for by a periodical revolution of the sun and 

 this or any other star about their common centre of 

 gravity. 



in. 



Explanation of a common Impurity in the Nitrate of 

 Ammonia^ zmhich interferes with the production of 

 Nitrous Oxide, Bi/ Mr, John Sadler. 



IT t d attempting to procure nitrous oxide from nitrate of 



ebullition and ammonia by heat, it has frequently happened, when I ex- 

 cxpansion of pccted the salt to be at the point of decomposition, and 

 auwDouia. nitrous oxide about to be formed, a violent ebullition has 



taken place, and dense white fumes have been disengaged 

 so rapidly as frequently to burst the retort. When first 

 I observed the fact, I imagined too great a degree of heat 

 had been employed, and the nitrate of ammonia rapidly 

 sublimed and carried over with the nitrous oxide. In my 

 subsequent attempts I endeavoured to guard against the 

 possibility of falling into the same error by increasing 

 the heat gradually and interposing a plate of iron between 

 the bottom of the retort and the furnace when I sup- 

 It did not arise P^^^^ *^® ^^^* *^° intense ; yet, notwithstanding these 

 from excess of precautions, the same rapid disengagement of dense white 

 keat. 



• See the note Phil. Trans, for i8oa, page 478. 

 f Phil. Trans, for 1 8o^, page 479. 



vapoui-i 



