140 
PROFESSOR SCHQENBEIN ON SPONTANEOUS NITRIFICATION. 
nitrogen of the atmosphere. Now if ozone be capable of forming nitrate of lime by 
being treated both with nitrogen and hydrate of lime, it is very possible that ozone 
coming in the very moment of its formation in contact with nitrogen and water, 
produces what is called hydrate of nitric acid. Nitrogen being oxidized by ozone 
into N0 4 , this compound would unite with an equivalent of H0 2 (ozone) and form 
hydrated nitric acids. 
According to that view, the nitric acid generated, — 
1 . On electrifying moist atmospheric air ; 
2. On electrolysing water containing nitrogen, i. e. air; 
3. On making phosphorus to act upon a moist mixture of oxygen and nitrogen ; 
would be formed in a secondary way, that is to say, in consequence of the oxidizing 
effects produced by ozone upon nitrogen. 
Supposing the suspected connexion really exists between the formation of ozone 
and the generation of nitric acid, we can easily understand the concomitant appear- 
ance of both, and conceive that where ozone is produced, nitric acid also must be 
formed, provided there be nitrogen and water present at the spot where ozone hap- 
pens to be generated. If, agreeably to the views hitherto developed, the nitric acid 
formed on electrifying moist atmospheric air ; electrolysing water charged with some 
azote; or making phosphorus to act on a moist mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, 
owes its origin to the ozone being produced under those circumstances, what is the 
cause of the generation of that acid which is formed during the putrefaction of 
azotic substances being in contact with strong bases and air? The putrefaction of 
those substances consisting, as it is well known, partly at least, in an act of oxida- 
tion or slow combustion of their oxidable constituent parts, and it being a fact that 
during the slow combustion of phosphorus, vapour of ether, or alcohol in atmospheric 
air, a highly oxidizing agent (ozone) makes its appearance, we may be allowed to 
compare the slow combustion of phosphorus with the putrefaction of azotic organic 
matters, both of them taking place in the atmosphere. And if it be a fact that during 
the slow combustion of phosphorus and ether, ozone is produced, it does not seem to 
be an over-bold conjecture to suppose that ozone is also formed during the putrefac- 
tion of azotic substances, and the nitrogen of those matters oxidized into nitric acid. 
As phosphorus which contains no trace of nitrogen, nevertheless forms nitric acid on 
its being slowly burned in atmospheric air, it seems to be not impossible that organic 
substances containing no nitrogen produce also ozone, and along with it nitric acid 
during the slow oxidation they undergo in atmospheric air. It seems to me to be im- 
portant to ascertain, by accurate experiments, whether, under the circumstances last 
mentioned, nitric acid or nitrates are formed. Some observations made by Bra- 
connot and Saussure seem to speak in favour of such a formation, they are however 
too vague to decide the question. To arrive at certainty regarding that fact is im- 
portant, not only with respect to the theory of spontaneous nitrification, but also 
with reference to a matter which has of late been the subject of much discussion. 
