470 



Article XXIV. 



On certain Comhinatinns of a Netv j4cid, formed of Azote, 

 Sulphur, and Oxygen ; by J. Pelouze. 



From the Annates de C/iimie et de Physique, vol. xvi. p. 151.* 



UaVY made the important observation that nitrous gas (deiit- 

 oxide oi" azote) was susceptible oi" absorption by a mixture of potash 

 or soda and an alkaline sulphite, and that iiom this action a peculiar 

 matter resuUed, whose principal characteristic was to disengage abun- 

 dantly^ nrotoxii'e ol' azote when brought into contact with acids. His 

 experiments ax"e recorded in vol. xx. of the Revue Britannique (Tor 

 1802): an e?. tract is also given in the Traite de Chimie of Berzelius, 

 vol. ii. p. 50. 



Dy vv. believing the presence of tlie potash and soda, in a free state, 

 necessary to the absorption of the deutoxide of azote by the sulphites, 

 and remarking moreover that the acids no longer disengaged nitrous 

 gas, but protoxide of azote, from these new combinations, considered 

 them as formed of this latter gas and an alkali, and proposed to give 

 them the name oi nitroxides of potash and soda. He attempted unsuc- 

 cessfully to obtain analogous compounds with ammonia, baryta, strontia, 

 and lime. 



To explain the disappearance of the deutoxide of azote, Davy sup- 

 posed that the potash and soda, although incapable of absorbing this 

 gas when wholly formed, might yet take it up during its formation, and 

 combine with it by the action of the affinities which decompose the ni- 

 trous gas and convert it into protoxide of azote. 



The celebrated English chemist extended his observations no further. 

 The salts which he had obtained not having been disengaged from the 

 extrinsic matter with which they were combined, he was unable either 

 to submit them to analysis, or to examine their principal characteristics; 

 and thus he left their description very incomplete. 



Upon passing an aqueous solution of sulphite of anmionia, cooled to 

 the point at which it begins to congeal, into a small tube filled with 

 deutoxide of azote, which has been exposed for several minutes to a tem- 

 perature of — 15° to — 20°(Reaum.), the volume of the gas gradually di- 

 minishes; and upon withdrawing the tube by degi'ees from the cooling 

 mixture, and agitating it until the congealed matter is liquified, repeating 



• The Editor is iiulebtcd for the translation to Mr. J. E. Taylor. 



