242 CHEMICAL TRANSFORMATIONS 



diminished, when the quantity of nitrogen is very 

 small in proportion to that of the other elements 

 with which it is united, so that their mutual 

 attractions preponderate. 



This easy transposition of atoms is best seen in 

 the fulminating silvers, in fulminating mercury, in 

 the iodide or chloride of nitrogen, and in all fulmi- 

 nating compounds. 



All other azotised substances acquire the same 

 power of decomposition, when the elements of 

 water are brought into play, and indeed, the 

 greater part of them are not capable of trans- 

 formation, while this necessary condition to the 

 transposition of their atoms is absent. Even the 

 compounds of nitrogen, which are most liable to 

 change, such as those which are found in animal 

 bodies, do not enter into a state of putrefaction 

 when dry. 



The result of the known transformations of 

 azotised substances proves, that the water does not 

 merely act as a medium in which motion is per- 

 mitted to the elements in the act of transposition, 

 but that its influence depends on chemical affinity. 

 When the decomposition of such substances is 

 effected with the assistance of water, their nitrogen 

 is invariably liberated in the form of ammonia. 

 This is a fixed rule without any exceptions, what- 

 ever may be the cause which produces the decom- 

 positions. All organic compounds containing 

 nitrogen, evolve the whole of that element in 



