IN GASES: HYDROGEN, CARBONIC OXIDE, AND OXYGEN. 
659 
the result. For the purpose of comparing the experiments one with the other, the 
volume of the combustible gases before the explosion is taken as 100 in each case; 
then the volumes of gases left unburnt and the volume of the burnt gases 
together make up 100. Tn the following table these volumes are given in 
separate columns. In the first column is given the “ reference number,” in the second 
the temperature of the mixture before explosion. 
Table XXV.—Pressure = 1000 millims. 
Reference 
No. 
Before Explosion. 
After Explosion. 
Temp. 
Oxygen. 
Carbonic 
oxide. 
Hydrogen. 
CO. 
CO £ . 
H_. 
HU. 
a. 
72 
°C 
14-6 
14-0 
13-46 
86-54 
12-33 
113 
59-72 
26-82 
4-90 
73 
14-4 
14-1 
30-13 
69-87 
2714 
2-99 
44-63 
25-24 
544 
74 
15-2 
141 
40-63 
59-37 
36"07 
4"56 
35-66 
23-71 
5 - 26 
75 
13-6 
14-2 
52-46 
47-54 
45-31 
7-15 
20-28 
21-26 
513 
76 
13-4 
14-25 
66-34 
33 66 
55-04 
11-30 
16-42 
17-24 
5-11 
77 
147 
14-25 
77-57 
22-43 
61-39 
16-18 
10-06 
12-37 
476 
78 
15-6 
14-25 
83-6C 
16-40 
64-58 
19-02 
6-91 
9-49 
4-67 
14'5 Mean temp. Mean coefficient 5'00 
Of the four reactions, namely, the two direct reacticns symbolised by the equations 
(1) 2 H 3 + 0 3 = 2 H,0 
(2) 2 CO + 0 3 = 2 C0 3 
and the two indirect reactions symbolised by the equations 
(3) IPO + CO = H 3 +C0 3 
(4) H, 3 4- C0 3 = H 3 0 + CO 
It has been stiown that both the indirect and only one of the direct actions actually 
occur under the conditions of the experiments. Mr. Esson,* who discussed the results 
of these experiments, found that the numbers obtained agree with the theory that the 
final division of the oxygen depends upon an equilibrium being established bet ween the 
two reverse changes 3 and 4. The quantities found in these experiments satisfy the 
equation 
V x h 
k x li’ ~ “ 
where h and h' represent the volumes, or the number of molecules, of steam and 
hydrogen remaining at the end of the reaction, and Jc' and Jc represent the number of 
molecules of carbonic oxide and carbonic acid remaining at the end of the reaction. 
The product of the steam and, carbonic oxide molecules bears a constant ratio to the 
product of the hydrogen caul carbonic acid molecules. Each experiment gives a value 
* Vide Mr. Esson’s Note at the end of this paper. 
4 v 2 
