388 On the Composition of Azote. [Mat, 



given in the fourth column. The number denoting tlie weight of 

 an atom of nitric acid = (0-133 x 6 + 6 = 6798) comes very 

 near that of your last determination. 



3. Nitrous Acid. — The proportion of 1 A + 3 O is also pre- 

 cisely that of your last calculation. It is oqvHl to G H 1-4 0, or 

 in the proportion of 1-^ to 1. Such a coirjpound, acording to the 

 general principles of atojiic comhinatlons, may be ^aid to be ;ilto- 

 gether impossible. But tins inconsistency will perhaps vanish on 

 looking to the probable formation ot its atom. Six atoms of liydro- 

 gen are disposed round one, and around these again three of oxygen, 

 an arrangement not at all improbable, if the objection, however, 

 be held valid, it would confirm the opinion of many chemists who 

 have doubted the existence of such a compound as nitrous acid, and 

 have agreed in conceiving it a combination of nitric acid and nitrous 

 gas. Be this as it may, it will not prevent us from ascertaining the 



n n 



proportion of its constituents. Thus 11-75 x 1-5 = 17-625 4- 



OHO 



88-25 = 16-64 + 83-36, as stated in the fourth column. Then as 



H O H O H O Az 



44-4 : 55-6 :: 16-64 : 20-83. Then 16-64 + 20-83 = 37*47, and 



O O O 



83-36 — 16-64 = 62-53. Hence kOO parts of nitrous acid are 

 composed of 37-47 azote and 62-53 oxygen. These results agree 

 very well with those of the experiments of Berzelius, 37-41 azote 

 and 62-59 oxygen [Annals, ii. 359). Berzelius conceives nitrous 

 acid to be composed of 16-65 nitric and 8345 oxygen— proportions 

 very near those of hydrogen and oxygen just determined. 



4. Nitrous Gas. — This compound 1 had also deduced as 1 Az + 

 2 O, which will be equal to 6 H + 3 O, or in the proportion of 2 



H O H O H 



to 1. Then 11-75 X 2 + 88-25 = 23-5 + 88-25 = 21-029 + 



O H O H O H 



78-971. And as 44-4 : 55-6 :: 21-029 : 26-333. Then 21-029 + 



O Az O O O 



26-333 = 47-362; and 78-971 - 26-338 = 52-638. Hence 100 

 parts of nitrous gas are composed of 47-362 azote and 52-638 

 oxygen. Now nitrous gas is stated in your last number to be com- 

 posed of 100 volumes of oxygen to 102-6 volumes of azote. Hence 

 we easily arrive at its real constitution by comparing the weights of 



Az 

 these gases with each other. Thus 30-328 + 33-672 = 47*38 + 



o 

 52-62, which comes close to the proportions just given. 



5. Nitrous Oxide. — This combination is doubtless 1 Az + 1 O, 

 which will be equal to 6 H + 2 O, or in the proportion of 3 to 1. 



H o II o 



Then 11-75 X 3 -f 88-75 = 35-25 + 88-25 =; 28-54 + 71-46. 



