52 Mr. V. H. Veley. The Conditions of the [June 2, 



decomposition is in accordance with the mathematical formulas given, 

 since, as it happened by chance, the Series XXXII to XXXIV were 

 continuous as regards the masses of nitrous acid contained therein. 



Nitrous Acid from Nitrous Fumes and Water. 



When nitrous fumes, from arsenious oxide and nitric acid, are 

 passed into water at ordinary temperatures of 12 15, their absorp- 

 tion is apparently very incomplete ; a liquid is obtained nearly colour- 

 less, and containing 1 to 2 per cent, of free nitrous acid. This 

 solution gives off bubbles of gas very freely, especially when poured 

 from one vessel to another, thus calling to mind the behaviour of 

 solutions of hydrogen peroxide. This very rapid evolution of gas 

 introduced, as explained above, unavoidable errors in the method of 

 experiment adopted ; there is therefore not so complete an accordance 

 between the observed and calculated values as in the other series of 

 experiments. 



Series XXXY. 



Temperature, 31' 7. Nitrous acid = 0*7685 gram. Nitric acid = 

 0*6753 gram. Ratio of nitrous to nitric acid = 1 : 0'88. 



The rate of decomposition is nearly identical with that of 

 Series XXXIY, conducted at the same temperature, and in which 

 the ratio of nitrous to nitric acid was also nearly identical. 



