^ On some new analytical Researches, 7 



to suspect a small excess of water, the quantities of am- 

 aionia were three cubical inches and a half, three and eight 

 tenths, and four and two tenths. 



These experiments were performed in the iron tube used 

 for the former process ; the tray was not withdrawn ; but 

 the salt introduced in powder, and the apparatus exhausted 

 as before, then filled with hydrogen, and then gently heated 

 in a small portable forge. 



Having ascertained what quantity of ammonia was given 

 off from the residuum, I endeavoured to discover what quan- 

 tity of nitrogen it produced in combustion, and what quan- 

 tity of oxygen it absorbed. The methods that I employed, 

 were by introducing the trays into vessels filled with oxygen 

 gas over mercury. The product often inflamed spon- 

 taneously, and could always be made to burn by a slight de- 

 gree of heat. 



In the trial that I regard as the most accurate, two cubical 

 inches and a half of oxvgen were absorbed, and only a cubi- 

 cal inch and one-tenth of nitrot{cn evolved. 



Surprised at the smallness of the quantity of the nitrogen^ 

 I sought for a'ramonia in the products of these operations 3 

 but various trials convinced me that none was formed. I 

 examined the solid substances produced, expecting nitrous 

 acid ; but the matter proved to be dry potash, apparently 

 pure, and not affording the slightest traces of acid. 



The quantity of nitrog-en existing in the ammonia, which 

 this residuum would have produced by the action of water, 

 suppo.-^iag the volatile alkali decomposed by electricity, would 

 have equalled at least two cubical inches and a quarter. 



I heated the same proportions of residuum with the red 

 oxidtMif mercury, and the red oxide of lead in vacuo, ex- 

 pecting that when oxyccn was supplied in a. gradual way, 

 the result nught be different from that of combustion; but 

 in neither of these cases did the quantity of nitrogen exceed 

 a cubical inch and a half. 



But on what could this loss of nitrogen depend} Had it 

 entered into any unknown form with oxyfren ; or did it not 

 really exist in the residuum in the same auantity, as in the 

 ammonia produced from it ? 



A 4 I hoped 



