364 On the Composition of ^zofe. [May, 



6 » 



As O -f 1-i Pb O. — Subarseniate of lead. 



3 2 



SO + H Cu O. — Persubsulphate of copper. 



2S6 + So6 + 20H O.— Crystallized sulphate of soda. 



2SO+ZnO+ 10 H O. — Hydrous sulphate of zinc. 



SO + HNO + 2H O, — Hydrous sulphate of ammonia. 



2 S 6 + Cu 6 + 4 H N O + 2 H O.— Hydrous aramonio-sub- 

 sulphate of copper. 



Article VI. 



On the Composition of Azote. By John Miers, Ksq. 



(To Dr. Thomson.) 

 SIR, 



It is now about two years since I was directed, from some unac- 

 countable phenomena, to the consideration of the nature of azote, 

 and was induced to institute a series of experiments, with a view 

 of effecting either its composition or its decomposition. The results 

 exceeded my most sanguine expectations, and I succeeded in 

 obtaining, from the decomposition of water, gases possessing all 

 the negative properties of azote. In order to denote minutely the 

 absolute changes that took place, and to ascertain the proportions 

 of the constituents with more accuracy, I determined to institute a 

 new series of experiments, with more perfect and improved appa- 

 ratus; and with this view my labours were suspended till I could 

 get all completed. Unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances, 

 however, sprung up in the interim, which continued to delay the 

 resumption of my exertions until the last summer, when, on the 

 point of making arrangements for the consummation of my inten- 

 tions, a notice appeared in the first volume of your j}nnals, p. 466, 

 stating tiiat Beizelius, by calculation, had ascertained azote to be 

 *' a compound of 44*6 unknown inflammable gas and 55 "4 oxygen 

 gas." The near coincidence of this determination with the results 

 of my own calculations could not but cxcile my attention, and no 

 time was lost in communicating to you an annunciation, as noticed 

 in page 63 of the succeeding volume. I then, it is true, promised 

 to transmit you an account of my labours, as soon as I could 

 collect a series of experiments sufficiently satisfactory to convince 

 the chemical world : this promise would long ere this have been 

 performed, had not tlie discovery of a neio acid gas, formed in the 

 residue of my former experiments, possessing very singular proper- 

 ties, arrested my progress, and absorbed tlie v»ho!e of the tmall 



