140 



Mr. G. Gore on some Properties 



" On some Properties of Anhydrous Liquefied Ammonia/' By 

 G. Gore, RR.S. Received May 15, 1872* 



To examine the general solvent properties of anhydrous liquefied 

 ammonia, and to detect any manifest chemical reactions between it and 

 various substances, I employed precisely the same kind of method as that 

 I used in examining liquid cyanogen (see Proc. Eoy. Soc. vol. xx. p. 67). 



It was desirable in these experiments not to use flint-glass tubes, 

 because the tenacity of that substance is so feeble the tubes burst by the 

 pressure of the gutta-percha stoppers ; when such tubes were employed, 

 the mouths of them had to be closed by fusion. The tubes require to be 

 somewhat stronger than those used with liquid cyanogen, because the 

 pressure exerted by the vapour is so much greater. The length of the 

 horizontal portion of the tubes was 7 1 inches ; by having this part of 

 the tube very much longer, a much lower degree of heat is necessary in 

 the experiments, and a greater quantity of the liquid may be obtained. 



To procure the anhydrous liquid, chloride of calcium was heated to 

 redness, reduced to fine powder, and perfectly saturated with well-dried 

 ammonia in a current of that vapour, the flask containing the powder 

 being immersed in broken ice during the latter part of the process, and 

 occasionally shaken to prevent formation of lumps. During this process 

 the powder evolved much heat and swelled considerably. Every pre- 

 caution was taken to prevent the powder absorbing moisture from the 

 atmosphere. 



The temperature employed to expel the vapour from the salt, with 

 tubes of the dimensions given, was much below that of visible redness. 

 On allowing the tubes to become quite cold, the vapour was reabsorbed 

 and the liquid disappeared ; the pressure having also ceased, enabled the 

 stopper to be removed and the products further examined. By this 

 means some of the tubes could also be employed for fresh substances. 



250 substances, including solids and liquids, and a great variety of 

 simple and compound bodies, were subjected to the action of the liquefied 

 vapour. Except when otherwise stated, the substances were in nearly all 

 cases as free from moisture as it was convenient to obtain them ; never- 

 theless in some instances the effects were evidently due in a slight degree 

 to traces of water. The substances were also generally very pure, many 

 of them having been carefully prepared by myself. The following is a 

 statement of the results : — 



"Water mixed perfectly with the liquid. After the reabsorption of the 

 ammonia by the chloride of calcium and the tube had become perfectly 

 cold, the water had become about twice its original bulk by retention of 

 ammonia. 



Iodine first liquefied to the appearance of thin treacle, then entirely 

 dissolved to a clear and slightly yellow liquid. On evaporation of the 

 * Kead June 20, 1872. See abstract, rol. xx. p. 441. 



