208 NITROGEN BODIES OF MODERN CHEMISTRY. 



Liquids do not blend tlms unless they are soluble in each other; unless 

 they have a peculiar mutual affinity. 



Oil and water placed in the same flask, and thoroughly shaken, will 

 X>resent a uniform aj^pearance, but if left standing a short time they 

 separate again, the oil gradually rising to the surface, and the heavier 

 water sinking below. 



The case is difi'erent with aeriform bodies. Two gases possessing no 

 mutual affinity, if introduced into the same space, will each be diffused 

 throughout the whole space precisely as if the other were not present, 

 and the result will be their perfect uniform blending. 



Suppose we admit into the flask two volumes of hydrogen and one 

 of oxygen, the atoms will group themselves as follows : 



Fig. 14. 



oo 



y'~\y-^ Hj, O2, H2. 



00 



This, a million times repeated, affords an idea of detonating gas. The 

 hjTlrogen is combustible, the oxygen is inflammatory, (the kindler,) there 

 is needed only an electric spark, a glimmering splinter of wood, the 

 presence of catalytic platinum sponge, or any other inconsiderable 

 source of heat, and the hydrogen burns in the oxygen ; an immense 

 volume of watery vapor is suddenly produced, extremely elastic, at a 

 temperature of 1000° II., and this forces its way through every obstacle. 



Many nitrogen compounds act in accordance with this principle. By 

 the introduction of nitryl, that radical abounding in oxygen, in the 

 place of hydrogen, a more intimate combination of combustible and in- 

 flammatory substances is effected, even in solid bodies, than is possible 

 in the most successful fabrication of gunpowder. 



What is the operation of the manufacturer of gunpowder ? He has 

 two combustible substances, carbon and sulphur, and one inflammatory 

 substance, saltpeter. Each of these three materials he reduces sepa- 

 ratelj^to the finest powder. He then mingles them, moistened, to avoid 

 explosion through friction, and then with the utmost care rubs them to- 

 gether for hours, yes, days, till the blending is as intimate as it can pos- 

 sibly be made. He must still force the compound through sieves 

 to grain it ; he must smooth and glaze these grains, &c., but with the in- 

 corporation of these three ingredients his chemical labor is finished. 

 Thus it consisted in producing the most uniform possible commixtiu-e 

 of combustible and inflammatory substances, so that the carbon and sul- 

 ])hur, which are combustible, are throughout in contact with the salt- 

 l)eter, which is the source of the oxygen. A spark coming in contact 



