484 NITROUS OXIDE. 



APPENDIX RELATING TO NITROUS AND NITRIC OXIDE GAS. 



1 . Sulphite of potash, pulverized and retaining its water of crys- 

 tallization, 100 grains, in 1 hour, reduced 16 cubic inches of nitric 

 oxide gas to 7.8 of nitrous oxide. 



2. Dry muriate of tin, dry alkaline sulphurets and iron filings, in 

 a few days, convert the nitric oxide gas into nitrous oxide. 



3. Dry nitric oxide gas and dry sulphuretted hydrogen, slowly 

 decompose each other ; sulphur is deposited and nitrous oxide 

 formed. 



4. In all the above cases, the presence of water aids the decom- 

 position. 



5. Zinc, in contact with water and nitric oxide gas, converts the 

 latter into nitrous oxide, and ammonia is also produced. 



6. Nitrous oxide is produced during the solution of several of the 

 metals in nitric acid. 



7. Zinc or tin dissolved in nitric acid, diluted with five or six times 

 its weight of water, gives this gas ; zinc in large pieces gives nitrous 

 oxide, till the acid begins to be of a brown color, when nitric oxide 

 gas is formed ; the gas from the solutions of the metals is never pure. 



8. Iron produces it mixed with nitric oxide gas. 



9. A cold saturated solution of nitrate of iron gives out much of it. 



10. Nitrate of zinc, distilled to dryness the same. 



11. If sulphite of potash, mixed with caustic potash, retaining its 

 water of crystallization, be immersed in an atmosphere of nitric oxide 

 gas, the latter will become nitrous oxide and this will combine with 

 the potash ; the sulphate of potash and remaining sulphite are crys- 

 tallized out, and the compound of nitrous oxide and potash is ob- 

 tained pure, except some carbonate of potash.. 



12. This salt is very soluble in water ; is caustic and pungent to 

 the taste ; turns green the alkaline test liquors, and contains about J 

 nitrous oxide, which is not expelled by boiling ; powdered charcoal 

 mixed with it burns with scintillation, and all acids expel the nitrous 

 oxide. 



13. By similar means a compound with soda may be formed, em- 

 ploying the sulphite of soda, &c. 



tort, are to be allowed to escape through the cock, H. As soon as the nitrous oxide 

 is evolved, it may be detected by allowing a jet from this cock, to act upon the flame 

 of a taper. 



To obtain good nitrous oxide gas, it is not necessary that the nitrate of ammonia 

 should be crystallized ; nor does the presence of a minute quantity of muriatic acid, 

 interfere with the result. I have employed advantageously in the production of this 

 gas, the Concrete mass formed by saturating strong nitric acid, with carbonate of 

 ammonia. 



The saturation may be effected in a retort, and the decomposition accomplished by 

 exposing the compound thus formed to heat, without further preparation. 



