Bid 
ve 
BETWEEN MURIATIC ACID AND CHLORINE. 335 
nearly that are known to constitute ammonia, I analysed this 
mixed gas, by explosion with half its volume of pure oxygen, 
in a peculiar apparatus, which I shall describe in the sequel. 
On firing 100 measures with the electric spark, ‘76.2 disappear- 
ed, 2 of which, = 50.8, are hydrogen. Before explosion, the 
hundred volumes consisted of 662 ammoniacal gaseous matter, 
+ 331 oxygen. Of these 662 parts, 50.8, are hydrogen, and 
15.86 azote ; or in the 100, 76.2 4+ 23.8. But, by Gay Lus- 
sac, 1 volume of azote unites with 3 volumes of hydrogen to 
form ammonia. Hence 23.8 measures of azote should have 
been accompanied with only 71.4 of hydrogen, instead of 76.2 
actually obtained. This excess of hydrogen is due to the de- 
composition of a little of the watery product, in the formation 
of the muriate of iron. That muriate of iron is formed, is pro- 
ved by many circumstances. First, the disappearance of the 
acid in the gaseous products. Sal ammoniac being decompo- 
sed with its ultimate gases, will consist of two measures of 
those constituting the alkali + one measure of the muriatic. 
Hence 100 volumes should contain 333 of this acid gas; but 
they actually contained only about 5. Therefore about 28 
measures, which form the difference, were condensed with the 
iron. Secondly, the iron turnings had increased in weight ; 
they deliquesced speedily on exposure to the atmosphere, and, 
digested in water, they yielded an acerb-tasted solution of mu- 
riate of iron, giving with prussiate of potash a copious blue | 
precipitate. 
The quantity of muriate produced in the experiment, will 
depend on the proportion of turnings which have been but 
moderately heated; for the ammonia, in its passage over the 
strongly ignited iron, may be conceived to separate the oxy- 
gen, and thus prevent the formation of muriate. 
Water 
