20 New Outlines of Chemical Philosophy. 



But this theory does not rest merely upon the hydrogen gas, 

 which rises from the surface of the eartli into the atmosphere, 

 to sup]3ly it nith one of the elements of combustion ; for it has 

 lately been proved that nitrogen is a compound of oxygen and 

 hydrogens 



Decomposilioji of Azotic Gas or Nitrogen. 



Since the departxne of Professor Berzelius from England, he 

 lias written to a cliemical friend in London, announcing that he 

 has succeeded in decomposing nitrogen, which he has reason to 

 suppose, from his analysis, to be composed of about 45 parts of 

 anew species of inflammable gas, and about 55 of oxygen*. 



And Mr. Mires, a young chemist in London, has proved, by a 

 scries of very ingenious experiments, that azote is a compound of 

 oxygen and hydrogen, nearly in tiie proportion of those an- 

 nounced by Professor Berzelius f. 



Now let it be supposed that 100 parts of atmospheric air are 

 composed, by weight, of 21 parts of oxygen gas, and 

 79 of azotic gas. 



100 

 And if the azote be composed of 45 per cent, of hydrogen 

 and 55 per cent, of oxygen, then 79 parts of azote contains 

 35*55 of hydrogen, and 

 43'45 of oxygen. 



*79^00' 

 For, as 100 : 79 : : 45 : 35*55 hydrogen. 

 And, as 100 : 79 : : 55 : 43*45 oxygen. 



Consequentlv if the hydrogen gas contained in the nitrogen 

 be taken into the account, 100 parts of atmospheric air con- 

 tains 64*45 of oxygen = 214-43*45, and, 

 35*55 of hydrogen. 



Whence it appears that the atmosphere always contains the 

 two elements of combustion, and these being acted upon by 

 tlic influence oftiie sun, the temperature of the air is increased §; 

 and as his influence increases or decreases, the temperature of 

 bodies, in which these elements are united, varies accordingly. 

 Hence we may infer that all the variations of temperature 



* Motithly Mfiu. vol. xxjv. p. 5T1. f Annals of Phil. vol. iii. p. 864. 



I Gii'taniicT piojjosed the liypothc?is that atmospheric air is a com- 

 pound of oxyceii and liydfoiicn, and that nitrogen gas obtained from it by 

 the usual methods, he supposed to ho formed bv a portion of the oxygen 

 being abstracted, anii the remaining quantity entering into combination 

 with hydrogen. § I'hil. Mag. vol. sliv. p. 351. 



which 



