Chap. 6.] [ 397 ] 



CHAP. VI. 

 NITROUS AIR OR GAS, 



Nature of this Fluid. How produced. Its Properties. Rejijis Putrf- 

 fatlion. Abforls and condenfes pure Air. The Eudiometer. 



NITROUS gas ought properly to be confidered 

 as an intermediate ftate of that elementary fub- 

 flance which is the bafis both of azotic gas and nitrous 

 acid. Azote, perfectly faturated with oxygen, forms 

 pale nitrous acid ; with a fmaller portion, it conftitutes 

 the ordinary orange-coloured and fuming nitrous acid; 

 with ftill lefs, it becomes nitrous gas j and when wholly 

 uncombined with oxygen, is denominated azotic gas. 

 In the ftate of azotic gas it is infoluble j but in pro- 

 portion to the quantity of oxygen with which it is 

 combined, its difpofition to afTume an aeriform ftate is 

 diminifhed, and its attra&ipn for water increafed. 

 * In order to produce nitrous air, put copper, brafs, or 

 mercury, firft into the bottle (with the fame apparatus 

 as for the other airs) fo as to fill about one-third of it, 

 then pour a quantity of water into it, fo as juft to cover 

 the metal filings ; and, laftly, add the nitrous acid, in 

 quantity about one half or one-third, according to the 

 ftrength which is required. Nitrous air contains, in 

 100 grains, 68 of oxygen, and 32 of azote. 



On its relation to the nitrous acid the diftinguifliing 

 properties of this gas will be found to depend. 



i ft. Nitrous air is as invifible and tranfparent as com- 

 mon air j in its fmell it refembles nitrous acid. Though 



this 



