3&% NEW METHOD OP ANALYSING AMMONIA. 



Products of the The products of the combustion of ammonia with oxigen 

 combustion of ,. ,, .. ,, .. - ,, 



ammonia with Tai 7 essentially, according to the proportion of the gasses 



oxigen vary ac- which are employed. If the oxigen gas exceed considerably 

 Droportion of * ne ammonia (that is, if its volume be double or upwards) 

 the passes. the ammonia entirely disappears ; and no gasses remain, 

 but a mixture of nitrogen with the redundant oxigen. The 

 moment the detonation is completed, a dense cloud ap- 

 pears *, and soon afterward settles into a white incrusta, 

 iion on the inner surface of the tube. The quantity of this 

 substance, which is produced, is too minute for analysis ; 

 but its characters resemble those of nitrate of ammonia, the 

 acid ingredient of which is probably generated by the action 

 of oxigen on the nitrogen of one part of the volatile alkali. 

 Accordingly, when the excess of oxigen is removed by sul- 

 phuretof Jime, the nitrogen generally falls short of the pro- 

 portion, which ought to accrue from a given weight of am- 

 monia; and hence it is scarcely possible to attain, when a 

 considerable excess of oxigen is used, an accurate analysis 

 of the volatile alkali. 



When, on the contrary, the ammonia exceeds consider, 

 ably the oxigen gas, no production of nitrous acid appears 

 to take place •, for the residue, after detonation, is quite 

 free from cloudiness. It is remarkable, however, that 

 ammonia, when fired, in certain proportions, with less 

 oxigen than is required to saturate its combustible ingredient, 

 is nevertheless completely decomposed. Part of its hidro, 

 gen is sufficient for the saturation of the oxigen ; and the 

 remaining hidrogen, and the whole nitrogen of the ammo- 

 nia, together with that existing as an impurity in the 

 oxigen employed, remain in a gaseous state, and com- 

 pose a mixture, which may be inflamed by adding a se, 

 cond quantity of oxigen gas, and passing an electric 



* In some cases I have observed, that, when the cloud does not 

 occur immediately, it may be madeto appear by agitating the quick- 

 silver contained in the detonating tube. This is probably owing to the 

 disengagement of some ammonia, which had lodged with the mer- 

 cury. The fact confirms what I have already suggefted respecting 

 the cause of the variable proportion of gasses, evolved from am- 

 monia by electricity. 



spark. 



