280 Dr. Henry on the Analysis of Gaseous Mixiitirs 



1st. By subjecting 25 measures of carbonic oxide, 15 of 

 defiant gas, and 57 of oxygen, in contact with the sponge, to 

 a heat which was not allowed to exceed 350° Fahrenheit till 

 the diminution of volume ceased, all the carbonic oxide was 

 converted into carbonic acid, and the olefiantgas remained in, 

 its original volume. 



2nd. By exposing in a similar manner 20 measures of car- 

 bonic oxide, 21 of carburetted hydrogen, and ;5G of oxygen, 

 to a temperature below 400° Fahrenheit, the carbonic oxide 

 was entirely acidified ; and on washing out the carbonic :>.citl 

 by liquid potash, the carburetted hydrogen was found unalter- 

 ed, mixed with the redundant oxygen. 



3rd. A mixture of 10 measures of olefiant gas, 10 of car- 

 buretted liydrogen, and 58 of oxygen, being heated in contact 

 with the sponge to 510° Fahrenheit, the oleMant gas was si- 

 lently but entirely changed into carbonic acid, while the car- 

 buretted hydrogen was not at all acted upon. 



-Ith. By acting .with the sponge upon 42 measures of car- 

 buretted hydrogen, 22 of carbonic oxide, 22 of hydrogen, and 

 28 of oxygen, first at a temperature of 340° Fahrenheit, which > 

 was raised gradually to 480°, all the carbonic oxide was changed 

 into carbonic acid, and all the hydrogen into water ; but the 

 carburetted hydrogen remained undiminished in <iuantity, 

 and was found, after removing the carbonic acid, mixed only 

 with the redundant oxygen. In this experiment the dimi- 

 nution of volume had continued some time before there was 

 any perceptible formation of water, the attraction of carbonic 

 oxide for oxygen appearing to prevail over that of liydrogen. 

 The same precedency in the formation of carbonic acid is al- 

 ways apparent when carbonic oxide and hydrogen, mixed 

 even with oxygen enough to saturate both gases, are raised to 

 350° Fahrenheit. 



By thus carefully regulating the temperature of the mer- 

 curial bath, the action of oxygen upon several gases (carbonic 

 oxide, olefiant, and carburetted hydrogen, for example,) may 

 be made to take place in succession ; and by removing the car- 

 bonic acid formed at each operation, it may be ascertained 

 how nuich of each of the two first gases has been decomposed. 

 The carburetted hydrogen indeed always remains r.nchanged, 

 and its quantity must be determined by firing it with oxygen 

 by the electric spark. If hydrogen also be present, it is difli- 

 cult to prevent the olefiant gas trom being partially acted up- 

 on ; but this is of little consequence, as I had shown that it is 

 easy to remove that gas in the first instance by chlorine. It 

 irmy be remarked, that this method of operating on the aeri- 

 /orm compounds of charcoal gives more accurate results than 



rapid 



