684 MR. H. B. DIXON ON CONDITIONS OF CHEMICAL CHANGE IN GASES. 
quantities of carbonic oxide (CO), hydrogen (IIo), and carbonic acid (C0 2 ) are 
respectively b — 2c-j-x, a—x, 2c— x, hence if H 2 0 X CO : H,xC0 2 =/x 
x(b — 2 c-\-x)=ix(a—x) (2c — x) 
or 
(/a — l)x 3 — {/u,(«+2c) + 6 — 2c}x-\- 2/xac—0, 
the lesser root x l of this quadratic is the amount of steam, and 2c—aq is the amount 
of carbonic acid after the explosion. In the experiments recorded on p. 659 « + &= 100, 
c=14’2, /x = 5, and a has values varying from 16*4 to 86'54. The quadratic in the 
case of the experiment in which o = 86'54 is 
4cc 3 -558T6t+12115-6 = 0 
the lesser root of which is 26'89. 
