226 GUN-COTTON AND GUNPOWDER. 
For small-arms powder. 
Oarban 2. sc. 6 cece soe tee mee te eo nln a a cee ae one alo al cle 82.90 
Pydt0gen. ~~ = nn oe nena oe oan cima atic Bees 2.99 
rye face enc - ye mecca oe mame cigs eee ie eae 12 14 
Pe ns ck ea mre ie wis Se, Ie jes me Sins = = alata li ce eee 1.97 
100.00 
Hence the percentage composition of both these kinds of powder is as 
follows : 
Ordnance powder. 
Nitrate of potash. ...--.--------+--- +--+ eee reece eee eee eee eeeee 73.78 
Sulphur DN on ok & ew oreo ea iahe pe jaiaie erste os aa alatetataloheual Neralel wetaletatelsdetrd 12.80 
‘ Carbon. 4 -' =. P82 D0 -- jen nee hee see an Seen 10.88 
Hydrogen ...... -----------2----22 eee 2 eee eee eee 0.38 
Charcoal .- OXYgen ..-.-- «2-2-2 ee ee cee ee reer eee e eee ee 1.82 
ARTic Bs, cae cokes cose c.o\a = Bt ole erate een a eee ete ieee olor 0.31 
100.00 
Nitrate of potash ...... ------------ eee eee eee ee eee eee eee eee TiS 
Sulphur ..........---- 22-222 eee eee eee ee eee ee ee eee eee eee 8:63 
@arboniisck Je cioc., ae ed See ee eee eee 11.78 
{ Hydrogens's. .40cie 0 e es ne ec cee cee eee ee ece ene se 0.42 
Char coal ohh Oxygen ot Mess ct che eee ee. eee eee it 79 
WA She oB ie cd saraleicte ee Sl Sk SS rere wh rererarevarorevaes taba tere 0.28 
100.00 
The composition of the powder analyzed by Bunsen and Schischkoff was—. 
WNuteateioe sotasitosc¢ se keel jeu 2 ok eee wel. poor pe eee een 78.99 
sulphur S24). -~ | .a0he 0.80 FOL. - poe el trem nente ans So 9.84 
( Carbone... csc 22 ee eee ee eee 7.69 
Ei ydroren go. 5. a. = oo on ep ee 0.41 
Charcoal .. Oxygen ee ee boats Pett eieln ane SE hee eee 3.07 
ASS ean omc cRepace eve Spancie ice ae Ce aL eee 0.00 
100.00 
For the qualitative analysis of the products of combustion, two cylinders were 
filled with the two kinds of powder, made air-tight, and successively exploded in 
the mortar in the manner described. 
For both kinds there were found in the solid residue: (1) sulphate of potash, 
(2) carbonate of potash, (3) hyposulphite of potash, (4) sesqui-carbonate of 
ammonia, (5) sulphur, (6) charcoal, (7) sulphide of potassium. The latter, 
in the case of the small-arms powder, was only formed in very small quantities. 
The gaseous products of combustion were: (1) nitrogen, (2) carbonic acid, (3) 
carbonic oxide, (4) hydrogen, (5) sulphuretted hydrogen, (6) marsh gas, and 
a very small quantity of a bisulphide of carbon compound, which was distinetly 
recognized by its odor as being that produced in the gases from gun-cotton. 
The whole mixture is colorless, and contains no fume or vapor. 
