AND SCHONBEIN 57 



phosphoric acid would proceed more rapidly in a dry 

 atmosphere in which no calcium chloride was placed 

 than in air containing a dehydrating agent. I have 

 not yet had time to try this experiment. 



If I am right in what I have said, and there can 

 hardly be any doubt about it, the whole chemistry 

 of the nitrogen compounds will have to be regarded 

 from a totally new point of view, and in particular 

 nitric acid will have to be considered as ozonic acid, 

 a theory which is also supported by the great simi- 

 larity between the nitrates and the chlorates, etc. 

 We should probably have to consider nitrogen itself 

 as the first stage of the hydrogenation of ozone, the 

 amides being the second, ammonia the third, and 

 ammonium the fourth. I need not point out what an 

 importance nitrogen would have for meteorology if it 

 were hydrogen ozonide. Similarly certain diseases 

 might be due to ozone, and so forth. 



I must now bring my letter to an end, and reserve 

 for another time the account of my investigations. It 

 would give me great pleasure if you would communi- 

 cate the contents of my letter to the Stockholm 

 Academy. You would be doing me the greatest 

 service if you would take an opportunity soon of 

 giving me your opinion and your criticism on my 

 experiments. 



With the utmost respect, I have the honour to be, 

 My dear Baron, 



Yours most sincerely, 



C. F. SCHONBEIN. 



