MOLECULES OF NITROGEN. 179 



when commingled, form such an unstable mixture 

 that a gleam of sunshine upon them will cause an 

 explosion, like that produced by the union of 

 molecules of hydrogen and oxygen by an electric 

 spark. 



Numerous changes of characteristic properties 

 of organic compounds are produced by varying 

 the proportionate quantities of the molecules of 

 hydrogen and carbon. 



MOLECULES OF NITROGEN. 



The molecules of nitrogen are manifestly em- 

 ployed for partially neutralizing and modifying the 

 transmission of electro-mechanical action and re- 

 action between other kinds of molecules. Were 

 not the atmosphere diluted with three-quarter 

 parts of molecules of nitrogen, the intensity of the 

 electro-magnetic attraction of the pure molecules 

 of oxygen for other kinds of molecules would pro- 

 duce a conflagration of surrounding bodies. Even 

 the grate bars of a furnace would burn with a 

 more brilliant light and intense heat than any 

 fuel ordinarily consumed therein. 



If the proportion of the molecules of nitrogen 

 and oxygen in the atmosphere composed, by 

 weight, of nitrogen seventy-seven and oxygen 

 twenty-three be reversed to oxygen seventy- 

 seven and nitrogen twenty-three, nitric acid 

 would be developed ; which is the most powerful 

 re -agent employed by chemists for decomposing 

 compound substances. 



