186 



Proceedings of Lndimui Academy of Science 



the intensity of tlie discharge the amount of nitrogen activated increases. 

 The ozone or ozone forming activated oxygen is used up to combine with 

 this nitrogen and then to further oxidize to nitrogen pentoxide. Inci- 

 dentally, with the increase in the intensity there is more local heating 

 and catalytic decomposition of ozone. These sometimes have, with ris- 

 ing voltage, a periodic increasing and decreasing in which the opposite 

 slopes of the ozone and nitric acid curves are the noteworthy feature. 

 Blue flint has been found to be the best matei'ial for the production 

 of ozone except at very high voltages when no dielectric material is 

 desirable. Glass wool is much more effective than glass rods for the 

 oxidation of nitrogen. 



/^0 



so 



^ 60 



^" 



30 



5 



Seconc/ar 



/O 



'/ 



/fi 



Fi.ir. 8. 0:'.one and niti ic aeid formation in contact with fiaj-nients of white (lint. 

 Note the depressinK action of the hinhev yields of nitric acid on ozone formation. 



The curves for the decomposition of carbon monoxide are remark- 

 ably similar in .shape to the curves for nitric acid production and .so 

 have not been given. The color of the discharge in carbon monoxide is 

 worthy of remark. It is a pale light green, sometimes with a bluish 

 tinge. With increase in air content it shifts over into the characteristic 

 purple of resonant nitrogen. A tube which had been subject to discharge 

 for some time was suspected to have carbon deposited on the fibers 

 of the dielectric, glass wool. On letting in air and continuing the 

 dischai'ge some beautiful scintillations were observed. Little threads of 

 fire would creep along the fibers and branch out to connecting fibers in 

 a spectacular fashion. The notable differences in the results with dif- 

 ferent dielectric materials are due to catalytic action at the surfaces. 



