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XXIV. On the Production of nitrous Acid and nitrous Air . By 
the Rev . Ifaac Milner, B. D. F . R . S . Prefdent of 
Queen’s College, Cambridge. 
Read July 2, 1789. 
*1. IT has been known for fome time, that a relation fubfifts 
A between nitrous acid and volatile alkali. The latter 
has frequently been produced by help of the former ; but I 
do not recoiled that, in any inftance, the volatile alkali has 
been proved to contribute to the formation of nitrous acid or 
nitrous air. Some cafes, however, have occurred to me where 
this evidently happens ; and they appear fo new and extraor- 
dinary, that I cannot but think they deferve the attention of 
philofophical chemifts. The hiftory of the experiments 1 
allude to is as follows. 
2. As foon as I had heard of the production of inflammable 
air by the tranfrnifiion of fleam through red-hot iron tubes, I 
had the curiolity to try whether fome other fubftances in 
the form of air or vapour might not, by a fimilar procefs, un- 
dergo material alterations. In particular, the nitrous acid 
feemed well to deferve a trial, both on account of the obfeu- 
rity and difficulties attending the theory of its production, and 
alfo of its important and extenflve ufefulnefs in chemiftry. 
In the relation of my experiments on this head, it will be 
unneceffary to mention the exaCt quantity of acid or of air ex- 
pended or generated, though I noted thofe quantities pretty 
accurately 
