On the Compojition of Azote. tSg 



not obtained from the water In which the ammoniac was diflblved ; becaufe the quantity of 

 the gas is too large, and that of the azote too fmall, to admit of any doubt refpcding the 

 decompofition of the latter. 



Such are the experiments, from which it appears to me, that we are juflified in con- 

 cluding, that azote is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen. I muft refer to a fecond 

 memoir for feveral other experiments no lefs decifive, which require to be repeated before 

 I fubmit them to the examination of thofe accurate and enlightened chemifts, to whom 

 this memoir is addrefled. 



Azote being, therefore, if I am not deceived, a body compofed of hydrogen and oxygen, 

 it follows : . . 



That the atmofphere is not, as has been hitherto fuppofed, a mixture of oxygen and 

 azote gafes, but rather a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen gafesj water in form of gas, 

 if I maybe permitted to ufe this expreilion. 



When, by thofe chemical experiments which have been improperly called eudiometrical^ 

 the oxygen is feparated from the hydrogen, this feparation can never be totally or com- 

 pletely made. Part of the oxygen remains united to the hydrogen, and forms that chemical 

 combination which we call azote, and obtain in thefe experiments. The oxygen, fo in- 

 difpenfible for fupporting the life of organized beings, is changed by its combination into 

 hydrogen, into azote, which is not only incapable of fupporting life, but is a true poifon,. 

 in confequence of the affinity it has with oxygen, and the avidity with which it takes it 

 from organized bodies. 



Oxygen has fo ftrong an affinity with hydrogen when both are mixed in the atmofphere^ 

 that it is very difficult to feparate them entirely, and hence the great difficulty of anaiyfing 

 azote. When charcoal, fulphur, a lighted candle, or the metals, have ccafed to burn in 

 atraofpheric air, when animals have periflied in a given quantity of this fluid, the re- - 

 mainder ftill contains a notable proportion of oxygen. Phofphorns burns in this refidue 

 very well, and for a confiderable time ; and even when the phofphorus has ceafed to burn,, 

 there always remains a fmall quantity of oxygen united to hydrogen, that is to fay, there 

 is a remainder of azote. We may, neverthelefs, as I have feveral times obferved, deprive 

 the atmofpheric air of almoil the whole of its oxygen, and render the analyiis nearly com- 

 plete by heating phofphorus in it for a certain time. Phofphorated hydrogen gas is then 

 obtained by the change of part of the azote into hydrogen. 



From the experiments here recited, it follows, that the eudiometer, fuch as^ it exifts at 

 prefent, is founded on erroneous principles^, the azote obtained in thefe. experiments being, 

 always a produdt of the operation, which did not exift before in the form of azote previous 

 to the examination. Von Humboldt, who is much difpofed to draw general conclufions 

 from infulated fafts, appears to have been deceived when he advantes that the earths may^ 

 be ufed to determl e the quantity of azote contained iii atmofpheric air. The earths do 

 aot point out the azotic part;, but change a portion into aaote^ 



& Cdtiriited' 



