gaseous mixtures , and its application to their analysis . 275 
the ingredients of the mixture nevertheless act slowly upon 
each other ; and after a few days, the whole of the hydrogen 
and carbonic oxide are found to have united with oxygen, 
and the carburetted hydrogen to remain of its original volume. 
VIII. Mixtures of Hydrogen, Carbonic Oxide , and Olefiant 
Gases with Oxygen. 
When the oxygen, in a mixture of these gases, is sufficient 
to saturate the two first only, and the proportion of hydrogen 
is so adjusted that the action of the sponge is not very ener- 
getic, the hydrogen and carbonic oxide only are acted upon ; 
but if the diminution of volume, which the sponge produces, 
be rapid and considerable, part of the olefiant gas is converted 
into water and carbonic acid. This effect on olefiant gas 
takes place still more readily, if the oxygen present be 
adequate to the saturation of all three combustible gases. 
It is remarkable, that if to a mixture of hydrogen, carbonic 
oxide, and oxygen, in such proportions that the sponge would 
act rapidly in producing combination, olefiant gas be added, 
the action of the gases on each other is suspended. Thus 
20 measures of carbonic oxide, 31 of hydrogen, and 28 of 
oxygen, were instantly acted upon by the sponge ; but the 
addition of 20 measures of olefiant gas to a similar mixture 
entirely suspended its efficiency. By standing fourteen days, 
rather more than half the carbonic oxide was acidified, and 
about one-twelfth of the hydrogen was changed into water, 
but the olefiant gas remained unaltered. 
