Dana on Nitrous (xas. 341 



does not exist in any known compound of oxygene with 

 azote. It IS perfectly well established that 



100 vo's. of oxygene unite with 400 vols, of nitrous gas and form Hyponi- 



[trous acid, 

 100 " " " 200 " " Nitrous acid, and 



100 » " " 133.33 " " Nitric acid. 



The existence of the hyponitrous acid, which has been 

 doubted, is confirmed by the observations which follow. 



When we mix, therefore, 100 parts of atmostpheric air, 

 with 100 parts of nitrous gas, the diminution in volume, 



if nitric acid only be formed, should be 49 parts; 



if nitrous acid only, " " 66 parts ; 



if hyponitrous acid only, " 105 parts: 



But experiment teaches us that the diminution of volume 

 is actually 84 parts, and that all the oxygene disappears ; 

 now this degree of diminution can be produced only by the 

 formation and absorption of hyponitrous acid and o'i nitrous 

 acid', and the oxygene present is equally divided between 

 them ; viz. 



30 vols, of oxygene unite with 200 nitrous gas and form hyponitrous acid, 

 50 vols. " " 100 " " nitrous acid. 



too 300 



Or, as in the analysis of the air, which contains 21 per 

 cent, of oxygene, and the diminution amounts to 84 parts 

 when 100 each of air and nitrous gas are employed, 

 One half its oxygen, equal - - 10.5 vols. 



Unites, to form hyponitrous acid, with nitrous gas, 42.0 vols. 

 Tiie remainder of the oxygene, - - 10.5 vols. 



To form nitrous acid, unites with nitrous gas, 21.0 vols. 



All of which are condensed, equal - - 84.0 vols. 



The theory here proposed perfectly corresponds with the 

 fact ; and the experiment confirms the existence of hyponi- 

 trous acid ; the degree of diminution cannot, I apprehend, 

 be explained on any other supposition than that now made* 

 The fact, that the water, which absorbs the red vapours, 

 produces nitrites is no proof that nitrous acid, alone, is 

 formed; we know very little about the nitrites; but it 

 is very easy to conceive, from the relations of nitrous and 

 hfponilrnvs acids, that, in concentrating a solution contain- 



