SIR B. C. BRODIE ON THE ACTION OF ELECTRICITY ON GASES. 
455 
destroyed by caustic soda, is totally unaffected even by a strong solution of carbonate of 
soda. This fact I have ascertained by experiment. In the last two experiments the 
volume of gas after the experiment was not measured. 
In the next Table T is the “ titre” of the gas. 
y is the volume of the gas before the experiment. 
Yj is the volume after the experiment. 
Vj — V is the increment in the volume of the gas. 
-'rjp ^ is the ratio of this increment to the “titre” of the gas. 
P is the amount of oxygen lost by the binoxide of sodium, as estimated by titration 
calculated in cub. centims. at 0° C. and 760 millims. 
P+T is the sum of the oxygen lost by the binoxide of sodium and the “titre” of 
the gas. 
P + T . 
— p — is the ratio of this sum to the “ titre” of the gas. 
T. 
V. 
Y r 
v x -v. 
v,-v 
P. 
P+T. 
P+T 
T ' 
T ' 
3-92 
269-84 
277-4 
7-56 
1-93 
4-19 
8-11 
2-06 
7-42 
273-81 
288-62 
14-81 
1-99 
8-70 
16-12 
2-17 
3-23 
3-26 
6-49 
2-00 
3-34 
3-61 
6-95 
2-08 
It appears from these experiments that the ozone and the binoxide of sodium are 
decomposed in exactly equivalent proportions, and that in this decomposition equal 
volumes of oxygen are evolved from each of the two substances respectively, the reaction 
in this respect being similar to the decomposition of the peroxide of sodium by perman- 
ganic acid and ferrocyanide of potassium, and to the various deoxidations effected by the 
peroxide of hydrogen previously investigated by me, and discussed in a former com- 
munication to the Society*. 
That this reaction has all the characters of a normal chemical decomposition occurring 
according to the law of definite and multiple proportions, is further proved by the fol- 
lowing experiments, in which the binoxide of sodium was so dilute as to allow of the 
passage through it of a certain portion of the electrized gas with its properties unaltered. 
After the bulb containing the solution of binoxide of sodium a second bulb was placed, 
containing a solution of iodide of potassium ; the difference between the original “ titre ” 
of the gas and the “ titre ” after the experiment of this solution is the “ titre ” of the 
ozone by which the decomposition of the binoxide of sodium is actually effected, and 
the ratio of the amount of oxygen, P, lost by the binoxide of sodium to this difference 
gives the proportion in which the oxygen is evolved from the two substances respectively. 
T is the original “ titre ” of the gas. 
T x the “titre” of the gas after its passage through the solution of binoxide of sodium. 
* Philosophical Transactions, 1850, p. 750, and 18G2, p. 840. 
