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NITROGEN. 



NITRIC OXIDE. 

 DEUTOX1DE OF AZOTE, DEUTOXIDE OF NITROGEN, 



BINOXIDE OF NITROGEN (Turner,) NITROUS GAS (Priestley.) 

 Eg. 277 or 30.2; NO 2 ; density 1039.3; 



This gas which comes off during the action of nitric acid 

 upon most metals, appears to have been collected by Dr. Hales, 

 the father of pneumatic chemistry, but its properties were 

 first minutely studied by Dr. Priestley. 



Preparation. Nitric oxide is easily procured by the action 

 of nitric acid diluted to the specific gravity 1.2, upon sheet 

 copper clipped into small pieces. As no heat is required, this 

 gas may be evolved like hydrogen from a gas bottle (page 257-) 

 Mercury may be substituted for copper, but it is then necessary 

 to apply a gentle heat to the materials. This gas may be 

 collected and retained over water without loss. 



In dissolving in nitric acid, the copper takes oxygen from 

 one portion of acid and becomes oxide of copper, which 

 combines with another portion of acid, and forms the 

 nitrate of copper, the solution of which is of a blue colour. 

 The portion of nitric acid which is decomposed, losing three 

 equivalents of oxygen and retaining two, appears as nitric 

 oxide gas. This is more clearly shown in the following 

 diagram : 



ACTION OF NITRIC ACID UPON COPPER. 



Before decomposition. 



After decomposition. 



377 Nitric oxide. 



1 173 Nitrate of copper. 

 1173 Nitrate of copper. 

 '1173 Nitrate of copper. 



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