118 PROFESSOR H. B. DIXON OX THE R4TE OF EXPLOSION IN GASES. 
( 2 .) 
1 
1 
Mixture. 
1 vol. cj'anogenl 
1 vol. ox 3 ’gen. J 
C 0 N 3 +O 2 
With addition of 
1 vol. nitrogen. 
O 0 N 2 + O 2 + N 3 
With addition of 
2 vols. nitrogen. 
CoN 3 -b 03 + 2N2 
Mean rate . 
2728 
2398 
2165 
Cyanogen will explode when mixed with four times its volume of oxygen. When 
three volumes of nitrogen are added to one volume of cyanogen and one of oxygen, 
the mixture will not explode, but burns at the mouth of the tube. So long, how¬ 
ever, as the nitrogen does not prevent the explosion, its addition to the mixture has 
less I’etarding effect than the addition of an equal volume of oxygen. 
Table XV.—The Rate of Explosion of Marsh Gas (l) with Oxygen and (2) with 
Oxygen and Nitrogen. 
( 1 .) 
Mixture. 
2 vols. methane I 
3 vols. oxygen J 
CW-bOg 
With addition of 
1 vol. oxygen. 
CHi + 0, 
With addition of 
3 vols. oxygen. 
CH,+ 0, 
With addition of 
5 vols. oxygen. 
cw+Og 
Mean rate . 
2470 
2322 
2146 
1963 
Mixture. 
2 vols. methane 1 
3 vols. oxygen J 
CH, + 03 
With addition of 
1 vol. nitrogen. 
CH^-hOg-t-N 
With addition of 
3 vols. nitrogen. 
CH.-bOg+Ng 
tVith addition of 
5 vols. nitrogen. 
CH.+ Og + N- 
Mean rate. . 
2470 
2349 
2154 
1880 
(goes out sometimes) 
The addition of one and of three volumes of nitrogen to the mixture of marsh gas 
and oxygen (CH^ + Og) is found to retard the rate less than the addition of the same 
volumes of oxygen. When, however, five volumes of nitrogen are added, the 
retardation is greater than with oxygen : this mixture is near the limit of explosion, 
and once or twice the flame died out before reaching the end of the tube.'"' 
* Many attempts were made to explode mixtures of marsh gas and air in a tube. A vigorous 
explosion, initiated by fii’ing electrolytic gas down the first few feet of the tube, soon dies out in the 
mixtures of marsh gas and air. In a metal tube 1 inch in diameter the flame travelled a considerable 
distance, but in a slow and irregular way. Similar results were obtained with mixtures of coal-gas and 
air. On the other hand, mixtures of ethylene and air explode readily down a narrow tube. 
