GASEOUS COMBUSTION AT HIGH PRESSURES. 



307 



Explosion of CH 4 + O 2 + 6CO in Bomb B. 



Two experiments were carried out with this mixture in bomb B, but again a slight 

 deposition of carbon occurred during the explosion, and therefore only the following 

 summarised results need be given. There was practically no change in pressure in 

 the cooled products, and approximately 16 to 17 per cent, of the original methane 

 survived the explosion, as compared with an average of 27'4 per cent, in the corres- 

 ponding experiments with the mixture CH 4 + 2 + 6H 2 (vide Table VIII, p. 303). 



TABLE XIII. 



Review of Results. 



It is important to compare the results obtained with the foregoing CH. 1 + :! 

 mixtures, not only amongst themselves, but also with the results of the corresponding 

 experiments with the CH 4 + O 2 + o;H 2 mixtures. 



In the first place, it is evident that the affinities of either hydrogen or carbon 

 monoxide are greatly inferior to that of methane for oxygen in explosion flames ; 

 thus it may be inferred from the experiments with CH, + O 2 + 2H 2 that the ratio 

 of the affinities CH 4 /H 2 is of the order 20 or 30 to 1 at least, and probably 

 higher, if the influence of the walls of the containing vessel could be entirely 

 eliminated. 



Owing to the uncertainty of our knowledge as to the precise mechanism of the 

 combustion of carbon monoxide in explosions, that is to say, as to the extent and 

 character of the intermediary action of steam, it is perhaps difficult to assign, even 

 approximately, any numerical relation between the affinities of methane and carbon 

 monoxide for oxygen in flames. Nevertheless, it may be pointed out, without laying 

 undue stress on the fact, that when the mixtures, initially containing methane, hydrogen 

 or carbon monoxide, and oxygen in stochiochemical proportions (i.e., CH 4 + O 2 + 2H 2 and 

 CH 4 +O 2 + 2CO), were exploded under similar conditions in bomb B, the carbon 

 monoxide was apparently more effective than hydrogen in pulling away oxygen from 

 the predominating affinity of the hydrocarbon. From the theoretical standpoint it 



VOL. ccxv. A. 2 s 



