on a new detonating Substance, 449 



in volume will be nearly 119 to 30; and this estimation differs 

 as little as might be expected from that gained by the action 

 of mercury upon the compound. 



It may fairly be concluded, that M. Gay Lussac's principle 

 of the combination of gaseous bodies, in definite volumes, 

 strictly applies to this compound, and that it really consists of 

 four volumes of chlorine to one of azote ; and the volumes 

 likewise exactly coincide with the laws of definite proportions ; 

 and the detonating compound may be regarded as composed 

 of one proportion of azote 26, and four proportions of chlo- 

 rine 261. 



I attempted a comparative experiment on the proportions in 

 the compound, by estimating the quantity of azote produced 

 in the decomposition of ammonia by it ; but I found that this 

 process was of no value for the purpose of analysis, for water 

 appeared to be decomposed at the same time with the ammo- 

 nia, and nitric acid formed ; and, in consequence, the quantity 

 of azote evolved was much less than it would have been, sup- 

 posing the ammonia decomposed by the mere attraction of 

 chlorine for hydrogen. 



The results of the analysis of the new compound are inte- 

 resting for several reasons. 



They shew, what seemed probable from other facts, that 

 there is no strict law of analogy, which regulates the combi- 

 nations of the same substance with different substances. As- 

 three of hydrogen combine with one of azote, and one of 

 hydrogen with one of chlorine, I thought it probable that the 

 new compound would contain three of chlorine to one of 

 azote, which is not the case. 



This Compound is the first instance known of one proportion 



