32O AGRICULTURAL ANALYSIS 



the nascent oxygen there generated, a solution of pure nitric acid 

 results, all nitrous acid undergoing oxidation. It is not stated 

 if this process has proved a commercial success. 



Thus, although the electrochemical production of nitric acid 

 has attained a fair degree of efficiency in some of the processes 

 described, the problem of directly manufacturing a 98 per cent, 

 acid from the furnace gases has not yet been solved. 



278. Method of Moscicki. A further contribution to this in- 

 teresting subject from an agricultural point of view has been 

 made by Moscicki. 81 In the system of Moscicki the principle of 

 the magnetic deflection of the arc is used. The study of a 

 quiet flame shows different zones within the flame. Only the 

 hottest zone is used for the oxidation of the nitrogen. The 

 oxidized nitrogen which is produced within this hot zone is 

 more or less decomposed in passing into the parts of the arc 

 of lower temperature. The important modification of Moscicki,. 

 therefore, consists in suppressing these cooler areas, and this is 

 accomplished by a magnetic deflection of the flame. The mag- 

 netic attraction only sets those parts of the flame into motion 

 which carry the electric current, while on account of the rapidity 

 of the motion the influence, of the cooler zones is eliminated. 



279. Production of Nitric Acid in the United States from At- 

 mospheric Nitrogen. The present status of the industries relat- 

 ing to the oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen and the produc- 

 tion of nitric acid, or some similar product therefrom, in the 

 United States may still be described as a waiting one. There 

 is no doubt of the importance of the problem under considera- 

 tion, especially to agriculture, but the actual economical devel- 

 opment of the industry is still in the future. Two general 

 methods of experimental work have been followed. One class 

 of experiments looks to the use of electric discharges through 

 the air in order to produce the oxidation of the nitrogen and 

 form the first products, which afterwards may be developed 

 into nitric acid. 82 



As has been before intimated the electric plant established at 



81 Electrochemical and Metallurgical Industry, 1907, 5 : 49 1 - 

 M Electrochemical and Metallurgical Industry, 1907, 5 : 289. 



