181-1.] Constituents of Azote. 187 



determines azote to he a compound of six atoms of hydrogen and 

 one of oxygen. This proportion, it will be seen, answers exactly 

 in all cases, and it has served as the basis of calculation for the 

 CO0f)positi< n of azoiie combinations in vol. iii. p. 3G6', of your 

 Journal. 



After I had ascertained the fact that azote was formed from the 

 decomposition of water, 1 withheld my experiments, for the pur- 

 pose of procuring a more improved apparatus, that should enable 

 me to ascertain the quantity of azote produced from a given portion 

 or' sulphurated hytlroetn and water : the data afforded by the pre- 

 vious experiments hardly being of themselves sufficient to deduce 

 with certainty the proportions of the constituents. In the interim 

 unavoidable circumstances arose that prevented the renewal of mv 

 labours since that period. Preparing, however, last November, for 

 the renewal of my experiments, I was induced to take up the flask 

 ution of the gaseous products of the last experiment 

 of March 6, 1812. On opening the stop-cock, 1 was surprised to 

 find a sudd< n gush of air into the flask, amounting in quantity, I 

 conceive.!, from the time it took, to near a third of its contents. 

 1 was yet, however, more astonished, on discovering that the gas 

 had now a smell similar to that of sulphureted hydrogen ; if any 

 thing, more unpleasantly fetid. Much struck with the singularity 

 • circumstances, i was induced to examine the flask, when I 

 [ire. ivi (! the internal surface of the sjass to be covered with innu- 

 merable tiansparent brilliant white crystals, shooting generally from 

 an arborescent efflorescence that had deposited itself over the whole 

 internal superficies, and a small deposition of moisture. These 

 crystals 1 presume, from the well-formed regularity of their shape, 

 to I :i arranging then selves long before that period. 1 ean 



licet that, above a year before, 1 opened for an instant the stop- 



cock of the flask, covering the aperture with my linger, when a 



rption of ; ir took place, which I then attributed to the 



charge of volume from difference of temperature. Last summer I 



licet perceiving the whitish appearance of the flask; but not 



trrence of so singular a change, the circumstance 



over without further observation. 1 was now led to 



weigh the flask, in onicr to ascertain the. quantity of air that had 



itted itself. The contents of the flask on March <;, 18,12, 

 J rains: on Nov. 28, L813, it was found to ' 



' I in w< igbt 7*25 .mains. My next object was the extraction 



of tl '■• gas from the vessel for examination, and then to ascertain 

 the of the solid materials deposited from the gas. On the 



tustion ol the flask its fas ous contents were found to amount in 

 ght to 1075 grains. '1 here remains, therefore, for the weight 

 ■lie materia!- deposited, two ( rains. 



Dftscription of the Crystals. 

 tals, though small, are of very regular formation, being 



y thin [dates of a rhomboidal shape : "so rue times we meet with 



