288 IMPURITY IN NITRATE OF J^MMONIA. 



4th. A lighted taper is immediately extinguished by 

 immersion in it, 



5th. It has a disagreeable acidulous taste, and pungent 

 smell, in which the peculiar odour of nitro-niuriatic acid 

 gas is perceptible. 



6th. An equal bulk of water did not seem to dissolve 

 any very considerable portion of this gas. 

 Pure nitrate The retort containing the pure nitrate, exposed to the 



gives much same degree of heat, gave out very soon pure nitrous 

 «ldd^^ *^^ oxide; but considerably more in quantity ; I think con- 

 siderably above a third more. 



It may be observed from what I have detailed, that the 

 j)resence of muriatic acid is of considerable disadvantage 

 in nitrate of ammonia, when intended for the production 

 of nitrous oxide, the process being rendered by it so 

 much more troublesome, and the quantity of oxide so 

 much less than what is obtained from an equal quantity 

 of pure salt. 



I have not observed how small a quantity of muriate 

 affects the process, but considerably under ^ is suflScient 

 to make a disagreeable interruption in the operation, 

 farther expe- Many experiments are wanting to point out the pecu- 

 iiments still jj^^p mature of the gas first produced by the decomposition 

 of the impure salt^ an examination may probably tend 

 to throw some more light upon the nature of affinities. 

 The subject 1 think is worth pursuing; at present I have 

 neither the time nor means to give it a farther examina- 

 tion ; at some future period I may proceed farther, un- 

 less some abler person should take it in hand. 



wanting. 



