1884.] The Conditions of CJtemical Change in Gases. 



59 



Mean Rate of Explosion for the First Metre of Carbonic Oxide and 

 Oxygen with different Quantities of Aqueous Vapour under Atmo- 

 spheric Pressure. 



The velocity of explosion was found to increase rapidly from the 

 point of inflammation. When a mixture of carbonic oxide and 

 oxygen saturated with steam at 10 was exploded in a tube 13 

 miHims. diameter, the velocity was found to be constant after the 

 explosion had travelled 700 millims. along the tube. The constant 

 velocity of the explosive wave attained under these conditions is 

 rather over 1,500 metres per second. Berthelot and Vieille* give 



* "Compt. Kend.," xcv, 151. 



