49 
some new Objects in Chemical Philosophy. 
of nitrogene and oxymuriatic add gas, was passed through a 
porcelain tube heated to whiteness ; the products were received 
in a pneumatic apparatus over water, there was a small loss 
of nitrogene ; but the greatest part came over densely clouded, 
and as nitromuriatic acid was found dissolved in the water, no 
conclusions concerning the decomposition of nitrogene can be 
drawn from the process. 
The general tenour of these enquiries cannot be considered 
as strengthening in any considerable degree, the suspicion 
which I formed of the decomposition of nitrogene, by the 
distillation of the olive coloured substance from potassium 
and ammonia, in tubes of iron. 
In reasoning closely upon the phenomena in this operation, 
it appears to me indeed possible to account for the loss of 
nitrogene, without assuming that it has been converted into 
new matter. Though the iron tubes which I used, were care- 
fully cleaned ; yet still it was not unlikely that a small quan- 
tity of oxide might adhere to the welded parts ; the oxygene 
of which, in the beginning of the process of distillation, might 
form water with hydrogene, given off from the fusible sub- 
stance ; which being condensed in the upper part of the tube ; 
would be again brought into action towards the close of the 
operation, occasioning the formation, and possibly the absorp- 
tion of some ammonia, and consequently a loss of nitrogene, 
and the production of an increased proportion of hydrogene. I 
have made one experiment, with the hopes of deciding this 
question, in an iron tube used immediately after the whole in- 
ternal surface had been cleaned by the borer ; six grains of 
potassium were used in a tray of iron, nearly thirteen cubical 
inches of ammonia were absorbed, -and about six of hydro- 
mdcccx. H 
