20, Note on Nitrogen. A New Method of Preparation. 
By THE LATE HasHmat Rat. 
In the course of his work on “ Electrolysis of Ammonium 
Chloride in Aqueous Solution ”’ the author was led to the above 
investigation. 
Kolbe (Journ. pr. Ch. 41, 137, 1847; Memoirs Ch. Soc. 
III, 285, 1848) observed that on passing an electric current 
through a concentrated solution of chloride of ammonium, 
EXPERIMENTAL. 
Fig. 1 gives a diagrammatic sketch of the apparatus 
employed. The electrodes are of smooth platinum foil. 
diaphragm is made of a porous earthenware disc, cemented 
to the bottom of the cathode chamber by means of Gold- 
schmidt cement. The electrolyte consists of a strong solution 
of ammonium chloride. Both the anode and the cathode 
pared phosphorus sticks. It was estimated that the amount 
absent. This shows that the amount of nitrogen in the anodic 
gas is more than 99°8 per cent. 
The small percentage, i.e. 0-2 per cent, of oxygen in the 
anodic gas may be attributed to the interaction of chlorine, 
formed at the anode, and water :— 
2Cl, + 2H,O = 4HCl + O,. 
Thus it appears that, for the preparation of still purer 
nitrogen, the anodic gas may be collec over caustic soda 
solution which would absorb chlorine and consequently obvi- 
ate the formation of any oxygen. 
Primarily chlorine is evolved at the anode which acts on 
ammonium chloride :—- 
NH,Cl. + 3Cl, = NCI, + 4HCl. 
