NIT 
e 
will be 29, while will ly evolv 
but is more generally retained by the liquid, to which it gives 
an orange colour. 
is is by far the moft convenient menftruum for gold 
and platina, and is ufed in the arts for that purpofe. See 
OxymuriaTic 4eid. : 
NITROUS Acip. This name has been commonly given 
yas 8 “Fans 2 atoms 
of nitric oxyd unite with 1 of oxygen, forming nitrous acid. 
Since, as we have obferved under Nitric Oxyd, that nitric 
acid is 1 of nitric oxyd to 1 of oxygen, nitrous acid muft, 
therefore, confift of 1 atom of nitric acid, united to 1 0 
nitric oxyd, and its atom will be, therefore, r2 + 19 ie 
Mr. Dalton fuppofes that the common fuming acid is ge- 
nerally a compound of nit acid and nitric acid e 
anitrite. In this experiment an atom of oxygen is difen- 
gaged from an atom of nitric acid, leaving an atom of ni- 
trous oxyd, which combiuirg with another atom of nitric 
acid, forms an atom of nitrous acid, fo that the refult 
is half as many atoms of the latter, as there were of the 
nitric acid. The falt originally confifted of 1 atom of pot- 
afh combined with 2 atoms of nitric acid, while the refulting 
falt confilts of 1 atom of nitrous acid, combined with 1 of 
alkali. 
Nitrous Gas. See Eupiometry and Gas 
Nitrous Oxyd. In referring to Nitric Oxyd, it will 
be found that it is compofed of 1 atom of ‘hitrogen and 1 
of oxygen. is is a compound of the fame elements, but 
with lets oxygen. Inthe fequel it will appear that nitrous 
oxyd is formed of 2 atoms of nitrogen with 1 of oxygen, 
being, therefore, a heavier atom than nitric oxyd as 17 to 12. 
The following is the proce‘s for procuring this gas in a ftate 
of purity. Intoa glafs retort put as much cryftallized nitrat 
of ammonia as will half fill it when fufed: place the re- 
NIT 
s conftitution will be eafily feen 
from its formation, in the procefs above defcribed. Nitrat 
ton’s numbers for the weight of atoms. It is n 
irreconcilable, that 1 of nitrogen fhould combine with 6 of 
hydrogen, than 1 of nitrogen combining with 5 of oxygen 
to form nitric acid. 
Although the nitrous oxyd contains lefs oxygen than 
nitric oxyd, yet the former {upports combuftion with moft 
bodies ; while the latter, as has been obferved under that 
article, is {carcely fufceptible of this property. If fulphur 
be firft kindled, and then introduced into nitrous oxyd, it 
burns with a brilliant rofe-coloured flame, producing ful- 
phuric acid and nitrogen gas. 
Phofphorus, fimilarly treated, burn: with great vio- 
lence. 
Carbon expofed in this gas, and fired by a lens in the 
{un’s heat, burns with great brilliancy, producing carbonic 
acid and nitrogen gas. According to Prieftley it is capable 
of detonation with hydrogen, by the ele@tric {park producing 
ater and nitrogen. When the hydrogen is not fufficient, 
tric acid is faid to be formed. This latter fa appears 
very improbable. 
It is alfo decompofed by fulphuretted, phofphuretted, and 
carburetted hydrogen gafes, by applying the mixtures toa 
ftrong heat. 
w 
ni 
Iron wire burns in this gas equally well with oxygen, but 
with lefs duration, producing the black oxyd ofiron, It is 
decompofed by zinc, the nitrogen being left, while the zinc is 
2 oxydate 
