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XXL Conditions of Chemical Change in Gases : Hydrogen, Carbonic Oxide, and 
Oxygen. 
By Harold B. Dixon, 31. A., the Duke of Bedford's Lecturer on Chemistry at 
Balliol College, and Millard Lecturer at Trinity College, Oxford. 
Communicated by Professor A. W. Williamson, LLj.D., Foreign Secretary, R.S. 
Received May 15,—Read May 29, 1884. 
[Plates 41, 42.] 
Contents. 
Page. 
Introduction.. 618 
Henry’s experiments. 619 
Bunsen’s experiments on tlie incomplete combnstion of hydrogen and carbonic oxide .... 620 
v. Meyer’s extension of Bunsen’s experiments . 622 
v. Meyer’s “ Coefficient of affinity” .. 622 
Objection to this term. 623 
Experiments by v. Meyer on the influence of an inert gas . 623 
Author’s first experiments not agi’eeing with Bunsen’s... 626 
Experiments showing the reason of this discrepancy, that the steam present takes part in 
the reaction ... 627 
Experiments with dry gases proving that dry carbonic oxide and oxygen do not combine 
directly. 628 
Methods of preparation of the pure gases... 629 
Dr. Botsch’s criticism. 633 
The influence of various gases on the inflammability of dry carbonic oxide and oxygen . . 633 
The rapidity of explosion, measured by the pressure produced, affected by the amount of 
aqueous vapour present . 635 
Determination of the rapidity of explosion of gaseous mixtures by Berthelot and Mieille. 
The law deduced therefrom . 636 
Author’s experiments on the rapidity of explosion of carbonic oxide and oxygen with 
varying quantities of aqueous vapour . 637 
Conclusions drawn from the previously-described experiments.. 641 
Explosion of dry carbonic oxide and electrolytic gas. 643 
Author’s experiments compared with Bunsen’s and Horstmann’s.. 644 
Experiments on the influence of initial pressure and length of column of the gases exploded 645 
Preparation of the gases employed .. 646 
Tables showing the influence of length of column at different pressures. 647 
Tables showing the influence of initial pressure, the length of column being constant.... 649 
“ Critical pressures ”. 651 
Horstmann’s experiments . 654 
Second series of Horstmann’s experiments. 655 
MDCCCLXXXIV. 4 K 
