24ii INFLAMMABLE GAS. 



Experiments measured, and then washed in lime-water, and measured 

 andobscrva- again. But in the greater number of experiments, this repetir 

 tionsonthein- .- , ° j ., r •.- j 



flammable gas "^" ^^* "°^ necessary, and therefore omitted, 

 from peat. (9) The residue, deprived of its carbonic acid, being put 



into a long narrow tube, a determinate quantity of nitrous gas 

 was let up to it, and the diminution of bulk, if any, was noted 

 and multiplied by 0.36842. The product was considered as 

 equal to the measures of oxygen contained in the residual gas. 



(10) This portion of oxygen, together with the azote knoww 

 to have been present from the first, was subtracted from the 

 residual gas, and the remainder, if any, considered as inflam- 

 mable gas unconsumed. 



(11) In some of the experiments, this method was consi- 

 dered as not sufficiently precise, and another was employed. 

 The residual gas, deprived of its oxygen by nitrous gas, wasj 

 washed in a saturated solution of sulphate of iron, till the whole 

 nitrous gas was absorbed. From the remainder, the portion of 

 azote present in the nitrous gas employed, was deducted. The 

 residue was compared with the bulk of azote known to have 

 been originally present. If it exceeded that quantity, the ex- 

 cess was considered as inflammable gas unconsumed. 



From this account it will be perceived that there is some 

 unceriainty respecting the residual unconsumed inflammable 

 gas. We have no test to apply which can immediately 

 indicate its presence ; for it will not burn with oxygen, unless 

 its quantity be considerable. Notwithstanding this uncer* 

 tainty, by varying the proportion of oxygen, and its purity, we 

 obtain results sufficiently satisfactory. 



7. When the gas from peat is mixed with its own bulk of 

 common air, it will not burn at all. But with two, three, four, 

 and five times Its own bulk of air, it burns. The combustion 

 is most complete with three atmospheres. With five, the 

 flame is extremely feeble, though most of the gas is con- 

 sumed. The following table exhibits the result of my experi- 

 ments. The gas used contained 12 per cent, of common air, 

 and the experiments were made over water. 



