Gaseous Explosions. 3 



Led by these experiments we began the investigation, 

 an account of which is given in the following paper. Our 

 object was to determine the conditions affecting the amount 

 of this explosive residue — especially the influence of the 

 surface exposed to the exploding gases. 



Mixtures containing slight excess, ist of hydrogen, and 

 2nd of oxygen were employed, and in all cases the residues 

 were collected and analysed. The first series of experiments 

 was made with the tube mentioned above, which was 100 

 metres long and 9 mm. in diameter, the surface exposed to 

 the gases being about 29,000 sq. cm. After each explosion 

 CO2 was admitted at one end of the tube until the pressure 

 was equal to that of the atmosphere, and then 1 litre was 

 driven out and collected over caustic soda solution at the 

 other end of the tube. It was found that the first litre driven 

 out contained practically all the gas left after explosion. The 

 amount of residue varied from 100 to 250 cc, according to 

 the accuracy of the mixture and the amount of nitrogen as 

 impurity in the original gas, and of air in the CO2. We give 

 below the mean results of analysis of a considerable number 

 of residues ; those given under A resulting from a mixture 

 containing an excess of hydrogen, whilst in those given 

 under B and C, the original gas contained oxygen in 

 excess. 



I. 

 Explosions of Hydrogen and Oxygen. 



(Capacity of tube 8,100 cc. ; diam. 9 mm. ; internal 

 surface 29,000 sq. cm.). 



Mean composition of residue : — 



lOO'O 



