3G6 Experiments on the Xaiure of [Nov. 



that azote contains only i as much oxygen as that which it 

 absorbs in order to become nitrous oxide gas. If we subtract 

 this quantity from the whole oxygen which ought to exist in 

 ammonia, there remains to be found in the hydrogen a quantity 

 of oxygen surpassing it in weight. On the other hand, azote 

 cannot contain twice as much oxygen as that which it absorbs in 

 order to become nitrous oxide gas, because that double quantity 

 weighs more than the whole of the azote itself. Hence azote 

 can neither contain more nor less oxygen than a quantity equal 

 to that which it absorbs in order to become nitrous oxide gas ; 

 but one volume of azotic gas forms nitrous oxide gas by com- 

 bining with half a volume of oxygen gas. Therefore azotic gas 

 contains half its volume of oxygen. 



5. We have seen that two volumes of ammoniacal gas contain 

 half a volume of oxygen gas, and produce one volume of azotic 

 "gas, in which half a volume of oxygen gas is contained. Of 

 consequence no oxygen remains for the hydrogen gas. 



It follows, then, that the oxygen supposed from calculation to 

 exist in ammonia is precisely equal to that demonstrated by the 

 same means to exist in azote. Therefore hydrogen cannot con- 

 tain any oxygen. — Q. E. D. 



But what, then, is the constitution of ammonia, if hydrogen 

 be an element, and azote an oxide ? I think it not unlikely 

 that some chemists will lay hold of this circumstance to revive 

 the ingenious fictions of Beccher and Stahl in favour of phlo- 

 giston, by making hydrogen act the part ascribed to phlogiston ; 

 but I do not think that this improbable hypothesis will gain 

 much by the explanation of the composition of ammonia; for if 

 combustibility depend upon the presence of hydrogen in the 

 combustible body, it follows either that azote contains hydrogen, 

 or that it is an exception to the general rule. We have no more 

 reason to consider the radicle of ammonia as composed of a base 

 unknown rendered combus.ible by hydrogen, than to form the 

 same supposition with regard to potassium and iron ; an opinion 

 which has been alternately combated and defended by one of the 

 most celebrated chemists of our days. 



If azote, as we have seen, is composed of oxygen and a 

 combustible radicle, ammonia must be composed of two com- 

 bustible bodies, combined with a single portion of oxygen 

 common to both ; but 1 have shown [Ann. de Clibn. lxxx. oG) 

 that this is the kind of composition which characterizes the 

 productions of the organic nature, from which ammonia itself 

 always derives its origin. We may, then, consider it as the 

 oxide of a compound radicle, as is the case with tartaric acid, 

 sugar, &c. In these bodies the combination of the oxygen with 

 one of their combustible radicles, to the exclusion of the other t 

 occasions decomposition. We can no more say, then, that 



