1814.] Constituents of Azote. 185 



By Measure. By Weight. 



Oxygen , 4 = 1-34 



Hydrogen 52 = 1*15 



Residue 44 = 12*33 



Cub. In. 100 = 14-82 Grains. 



And hence \vc have to determine the nature of this unknown 

 gas. Was it azote ? Although it seems to possess the general 

 character of that gas, it is yet too light for it ; for if 44 cubic 

 inches weigh J 233 grains, 100 cubic inches will weigh 28*02 

 grains ; and this is rather lighter than azote. Some considerations 

 towards the conclusion of this paper will make it very probable that 

 it was a compound of sulphur, azote, and hydrogen. 



In all these various experiments, although the same methods 

 have been followed, the products have all differed ; and it may be 

 inquired why, if the processes were the same, have not similar 

 results been obtained ? The cause of this variation will be fuund, 

 no doubt, to depend partly on the state of the sulphuieted 

 hydrogen, of the real nature of which but little comparatively is 

 known. The proportion of water that undergoes decomposition, in 

 relation to the sulphureted hydrogen, must also assist in varying the 

 results. Thus it seems probable that in the expeiiments of Nov. 

 £5,* three atoms of water were decomposed by one of sulphureted 

 hydrogen ; in that of Jan. 5,f 13 atoms of water by five of gas; in 



* Supposing tlic elements of (lie materials that passed through the process to 

 have been w + s{| or ^ + &H 0T O H + 8 jj or | J Jf , then the new 

 arrangement may be thu» shown : — 



3 S = 3 



9 1) = 6 2 1 

 1? U ss IS 



3 2 1 

 SS A O 



The remit of this experiment would in such case he three atoms of sulphurous 

 acid (formed of three atoms of sulphur and six of oxygen), two atoms of azote 

 (by Ihf combination of two atoms of oxygen with 12 of hydrogen'), and one atom 

 tygen, would remain nncombined. The sulphurous acid would be absorbed, 

 and a gaseous product would remain of two atoms of azote and one of oxvgen, 

 a propor ion that agrees as nearly as possible with 80 azote and 20 oxygen per 

 cent, in volume. 



+ Supposing again the materials passing through the same process to have been 

 IS i IS IS 5 J ■> IS lb . 



Vt Sll " r O II + S II or S O II' the new arrangement will be, for 



5 S = 5 



18 t) = 10 3 

 18 11 = 18 



6 S 



ss A 



Hie puenu prodocl in inch eaiei would be azotic gn« only, as the sulphurous 

 d eombiae with the water. These, it will b. observed, arc exactly the 

 n Milt- , i ihit nt. 



