208 NITROGEN BODIES OF MODERN CHEMISTRY. 



Liquids do not blend thus unless tliey are soluble in each other; unless 

 they ha\e a i)eculiar mutual affinity. 



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

 present a uniform appearance, 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 different with aeriform bodies. Two gases i)Ossessing 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 



f^-\y^ ^2' ^h ^3- 



OO 



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

 hydrogen is combustible, the oxygen is inflammatory, (the kiudler,) 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 oxj^^gen ; an immense 

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

 tem])erature of 1000° R., 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 

 ])lace 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- 

 rately to the fluest i>owder. 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 ])roducing the most uniform possible commixture 

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

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

 peter, which is the source of the oxygen. A spark coming in contact 



