78 Dii. Maovicab's Adaptation of the Philosophy of 



by in a similar manner outstanding, and the neutral by aq ? Hence 

 H meeting O, and entering into union and producing aq, is an epitome 

 of all synthetic chemistry. 



The Mixed Atmosphere. 



Oxygen, being developed (through the assimilative power of an atom of 

 nitrogen) by the transformation of a particle of vapour into H O, cannot 

 but tend to relapse, along with the hydrogen, into vapour, as soon as the 

 mitigation of the pressure will allow. And, accordingly, there is no such 

 combination as HON known at the earth's surface. No oxygen, there- 

 fore, can be obtained from the abyss by the aid of one atom of nitrogen 

 only. But let thei*e be a second atom of nitrogen there, and let it be sub- 

 stituted for the atom of hydrogen in the pole of the atom of oxygen, 

 giving the combination NON, and now the oxygen is protected on 

 both poles from the access of hydrogen, however much there may be 

 nascent around it ; and thus protected it may escape from the region 

 of danger. But of such a combination the axis is too long. As soon, 

 therefore, as NON escapes from the region of constraint, it will break 

 up. Each particle of N being spherical, will break off, and form an 

 aeriform volume by itself; while the atoms of oxygen, as has been shown, 

 will couple, and two of them within one atomosphere will form one 

 volume. And thus, as the organic composition of such an atmosphere, 

 due to the permanent decomposition of vapour in the abyss, we shall 

 have four volumes of nitrogen, and one of oxygen gas. And such is 

 generally supposed to be the normal composition of the atmosphere. 

 But on constructing an integrant element of such an atmosphere, that is, 

 a cubical portion with four atoms of nitrogen to the side, and there- 

 fore consisting in all of 64 N and 16 O, it will be seen that there is a 

 blank in the symmetry which another atom of O is wanted in the 

 centre to supply. This additional atom of oxygen gas, therefore, we 

 may expect in the repose of nature, giving, as the normal composition 

 of the dry air, — 



Vol. per cent 



64:N = 7901 79-19) au S Duinas and 



17 20-99 20-81 J • X Boussingault. 



NiTEic Acid. 



In what has preceded, we have seen particles of vapour going in 

 couples when necessitated, but tending to form into spherical groups, 

 and succeeding in doing so. We have also seen particles of oxygen 

 going in couples ; but not less than vapom- they tend also to form into 

 spherical groups, though to this theii- identity in all their corresponding 



