368 new Mr;Tiion of analysing ammonia. 



ably; the highest product being 19S{, and the lowest 180-2, 

 from 100 of ammonia. There can scarcely be a doubt, 

 however, that this want of coincidence is owing to the same 

 cause, as that which I have already assigned for the variable 

 proportions of permanent gas, which arc obtained from 

 equal quantities of ammonia by electrization. And, ac- 

 cordingly, I have found, that the evolved gasses, as as- 

 certained by combustion, bear the smallest proportion to 

 the ammonia, when most pains have been taken to obviate 

 the presence of moisture. The lowest number, therefore, 

 is to be assumed as most correct ; but other circumstances 

 being considered, I believe the second experiment furnishes 

 the most accurate data for determining the composition of 

 ammonia. The same explanation will apply to the different 

 proportions of oxigen gas required for the saturation of 100 

 aieasures of ammonia, the variation no doubt arising from 

 the uncertainty of the quantity of alkaline gas which is 

 actually burned. The proportion of oxigen to ammonia, 

 which I believe to be nearest the truth, and most precisely 

 necessary for mutual saturation, is that resulting from the 

 second experiment, viz. 67{ measures of oxigen gas to 

 100 of ammonia, or 100 of the former to 148 of the 

 latter. 



It may be observed, also, by comparing the numbers in 

 the last two columns of the table, that the hidrogen and 

 nitrogen gasses do not uniformly bear the same proportions 

 to each other. Notwithstanding all the labour I have be- 

 stowed on the subject, I have not been able to obtain a 

 nearer correspondence, owing most probably to the im- 

 perfection of the mode of anal} sing a mixture of hidrogen 

 and nitrogen gasses. In the mixture of permanent gasses, 

 determined in this way, the hidrogen, it may be remarked, 

 bears generally rather a less ratio than that of 74 to 26. I 

 do not, however, consider this fact as contradicting the 

 accuracy of the proportions which you have assigned ; and 

 It appears to me, that a sufficient reason may be given for 

 the want of a more perfect coincidence between results, 

 obtained by such different methods of investigation. In the 

 products of the electrization of ammonia, the hidrogen 

 composes nearly three fourths of the mixture : and hence 



its 



