72 ANALYSIS OF OLEFIANT GAS. 



The specific Hence it follows, that the weight of dry atmospheric air 

 gravity. is to that of drv oJefiant gas as |000 to 985-2. 



1 have found by direct experiments at the temperature of 

 12-5° [54' F.], that the litre [2-i wine pints] of dry atmoe- 

 pheiir air at 0-76 of a aiet. [29*8 in,] weighs 1-228 gr, 

 [18-967 grs]; consequently, from the ratio I have given 

 above, tht- litre of dry defiant gas weighs 1-20C)8 gr. [18-686 

 grs] at the same pressure and temperature. 

 Analysis in the I now proceed to the analyids of the gas by its combus- 

 eudiometer. lion over mercury in Volta's eudiometer, 1 have already 

 said, that this instrument bursts, when olefiant gas is de- 

 tonated in it, with nearly the proportion of oxigen gas re- 

 Moaenfcxe- quisite to burn it: but I prevented this accident, by em- 

 Seiy. '* Ploying a much larger proportion of oxigen' than the de- 



fiant gas could consume. 

 Result. I mixed 100 parts of the latter with 500 parts of oxigen 



gas deprived of carbonic acid by potash. These 500 parts 

 of oxigen contained 23-5 of nitrogen, and 476-5 of pure 

 oxigen, The mixture was reduced by detonation to 409'S 

 parts. Petash and hidro^nlphuret of potash deinonstrated 

 in this residuum 201 parts of carbonic acid gas, 184*5 of 

 oxigen gas, and f>4 of nitrogen. 

 The rombus- After tl^e separation of the ciirbonic acid in the residuum 

 iomiTete'^ **^ ^^^ cietqiiation of the olefiant gas, I examined whether 

 the whole of the oleftant gas were burned, by adding to 

 the residuum a small |X5rtiQn of hidrogen gas, measured 

 with great precision, and detonating the mixture. By this 

 second detonation not more than pne hundredth of car- 

 bonic acid at the most was formed : the condensation of 

 the gasses by the combustion was equal within a hun- 

 dredth to what should have resulted from the action of the 

 hidrogen gas I had added. The first detonation therefore 

 had effected the combustion of the olefiant gas. In the 

 calculations from this analysis I have paid no regard to the 

 products? of tlie last operation, because they are ecarely tp 

 be distinguished from errours of observation. 

 Camroacnt From these experiments it follows, that 100 parts of thi§ 



par , o .ae y]^fiant gas consumed for their combustion nearly 092 parts 

 of oxigen gas to form water and 201 parts of carbonic acid. 

 By comparifig- these numbers with the litre, and substituting 



th<; 



