On definite Proportions. 443 
300 of hydrogen gas. In this case it is evident that the 
acid can only contain an integral multiple of the oxygen of 
the nitrogen, and not of the whole quantity contained in 
the ammonia. And if such were the true composition of 
these substances, this would prove nothing for or against 
the composition of nitrogen; but it would demonstrate 
that hydrogen contains no oxygen. 
If this statement were true, the nitrate of ammonia when 
slowly decomposed by heat, woyld afford equal parts of 
nitrogen and nitrous oxide; for 100 cubic inches of hydro- 
gen gas take up 150 of oxygen, and the remaining 50 of 
oxygen form with 100 of nitrogen 100 of nitrous oxide, and 
consequently 100 parts of nitrogen should be disengaged. 
But we know that the quantity of nitrogen in the nitrous 
oxide obtained from the nitrate of ammonia is not consi- 
derable, although it is never wholly wanting. Consequently 
this view of the composition of nitrate of ammonia cannot 
possibly be correct, 
Since the nitrate of haryta, which is decomposed by 
mixture with the sulphate of ammonia, does not alter its 
state of neutralisation, it is obvions that ammonia follows 
the same law of saturation with the nitric acid relatively to 
the fixed bases of salts as with the other acids. Hence it is 
clear, that since 100 parts of nitric acid are neutralised by a 
quantity of baryta or protoxide of Jead which contain 14°66 
parts of oxygen, they must also saturate as much ammonia 
as contains the same quantity of oxygen. The nitrate of 
ammonia must therefore be thus constituted ; 
Nitric acid .., 76°18 100-000 320 
Ammonia.... 23°82 31°266 100 
But since the nitrate of ammonia cannot be obtained 
without water of crystallization, this determination cannot 
be directly confirmed. It may however be supposed, that, 
like the muriate of ammonia, it contains a quantity of wa- 
ter of which the oxygen is equal to that of the base, and 
that consequently in the nitrate of ammonia one third part 
as much water of crystallization is contained as it is capa+ 
ble of producing when decomposed by oxidation. Accord- 
ing to this, 100 parts of nitric acid, with 31-266 parts of 
ammonia, and 16°61 of water, must represent the crystal- 
lized salt; and 100 parts of crystallized nitrate of ammoniq 
must consist of 
Nitric acid........ 67°625 
Ammonia .....6.. 21°143 
W sterig' sibatieied $2) 08 11239 
Jn order to examine this more particularly, I mixed in 5 
sma 
