84 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CAxXADA 



Summary 



1. Of the four gases investigated oxygen develops the largest 

 amount of heat for each cc of gas adsorbed. The above tables 

 show that this is due to the chemical action that takes place between 

 the gas and the adsorbent. Both carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide 

 are formed. 



The largest amount of heat evolved per gram of adsorbent takes 

 place when carbon dioxide is used. Since the boiling point of this 

 gas is higher than the others it is more readily adsorbed. 



The heat effect for air is much smaller than that for oxygen. 

 Both carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are formed but to a smaller 

 extent. 



These are a contradiction to some of the results given by Miss 

 Homfray. She found only a trace of COo and no CO formed when 

 oxygen is adsorbed by cocoanut charcoal. This must have been due 

 to the fact that she analysed only the last portions of the gas pumped 

 off instead of all the gas as was done in these experiments. 



2. In the case of the adsorption of oxygen the amount of gas 

 adsorbed diminishes and becomes constant as the experiment is 

 repeated. This is also true of the heat developed per gram of ad- 

 sorbent. 



3. In the experiments with carbon dioxide the heat developed 

 is not accounted for by the latent heat of vaporization of the amount 

 of gas adsorbed, showing that some other process than condensation 

 is taking place. 



4. The coarser kinds of charcoal form carbon dioxide when 

 oxygen is adsorbed more readily than others. They also adsorb more 

 oxygen than the other kinds of charcoal. 



The above work was carried out under the direction of Professor 

 E. F. Burton, to whom my thanks are due. I also desire to thank 

 Dr. Stansfield of the Department of Mines, Ottawa, and Dr. Goss of 

 the National Lamp Works, Cleveland, for gifts of material. 



