On the CG7jJIituent Paris of Azot. 345 



curlal pneumatic apparatus, 94'5 meafures of carbonated hy- 

 drogen gas, and 107 -5 meafures of very pure oxvgen gas (ob- 

 tained from the oxygenated muriat of potafh). This mixture, 

 forming 202 meafures, was reduced, by an eleftric explofion 

 made to pafs through it, to I28'5 meafures, and then, by 

 hme-water, to 54*0: a fohition of the fulphat of potafh 

 diminirtied the remainder to 23 meafures. In this experi- 

 ment, therefore, 23 nwafures of azotic gas were produced by 

 an eleftric explofion, the oxygen uniting itfelf to the hy- 

 drogen, 



17. Of all the known bodies, zinc, if I am not miftaken, 

 is that which unites eaficft w^ith oxygen ; it takes it from al- 

 jnoft all other bodies, and this renders it exceedingly proper 

 for enabling us to difcovcr the fmalleft quantities of oxygen. 

 It was by means of zinc in particular that I was able to fe- 

 parate the oxvgen of the mm-iatic acid from its i)afe : I cm- 

 ploved it alfo to make the latcft analyfis of ammonia. If filings 

 of zinc be mixed in a retort with concervtrated lit^iid am- 

 monia, the retort being made to communicate with a pneu- 

 matic apparatus; and if it be kept in digeition for feveral 

 days, taking care not to increafe the fire too much, ^he am- 

 monia will be decompofed. In the retort vou will obtain 

 oxyd of zinc, and under the pneumatic apparatus hydrogen 

 gas in conficlerable quantity, mixed with a Imall portion of 

 ammoniacal gas and azotic gas not decompofed. It is eafy 

 to prove that it is not the water with which the ammonia 

 has been diluted that could furniili the hvdrogen tras ob- 

 tained, bccaufe the hvdrogen is obtained in too large quan- 

 titv, and the azot in too fmall, to leave any doubt in regard 

 '(1 the decompofition of the latter. 



Such are. the experiments from which we may, I think, 

 conclude that azot is a compound of hydrogen and oxvsfcn, 

 In a fecond memoir I fhall make known feveral other expe- 

 riments no Icfs decifive, but which require to be repeated be- 

 fore they can be fubmitted to the examination of the able 

 and accurate chemifts to whom this paper is addrefled. Azot, 

 then, if I am not miftaken, being a body compounded of hv- 

 drogeu and oxygen, it tlience follows, that the atniofphere is 



\ OL. \l, Y y not, 



