PROFESSOR H. B. DIXON ON THE RATE OF EXPLOSION IN GASES. 
129 
Here, as in the case of electrolytic gas, the rate for the pure mixture is in close 
agreement with the calculated velocity. Taken by itself, this experiment (not tried 
hy Beethelot) wmuld have offered strong confirmation of the correctness of the 
theory. But as successive additions of nitrogen are made to the mixture, the 
calculated velocities fall heloiv the observed rates, until, with a large excess of 
nitrogen, the calculated rate is 16 per cent, too low. 
The gradual divergence between the observed and the calculated rates of explosion 
for different gaseous mixtures, as successive quantities of nitrogen were added to the 
pure explosive gas, led me to try the effect of diluting electrolytic gas with hydrogen. 
According to Beethelot’s forumla a slight increase in the rate should occur; actually 
a very marked increase in the rate was observed. 
Taele XXVI. — Rate of Explosion of Electrolytic Gas with excess of Hydrogen 
added. 
^Mixture. 
2 vols. hydrogen “I 
1 vol. oxygen. J 
H 2 + O 
With addition of 
2 vols. hydrogen.’ 
H 2 +O + H 0 
With addition of 
4 vols. hydrogen. 
H 2 +O + H, 
] 
With addition of j 
6 vols. hydrogen. 
Ho + O + Hg 
Tbeorj, 6 
2900 
.3055 
3061 
3028 
Found, v 
2821 
3268 
3527 
3532 
To compare with this series of experiments, and with those given in Table XXI., a 
mixture of hydrogen and nitrous oxide was exploded (1) by itself, (2) with-excess of 
hydrogen, and (3) with excess of nitrogen. A similar divergence between the 
calculated and observed rates was found both when the mixture was diluted with 
hydrogen, and when it was diluted with nitrogen. 
Table XXVII. — Rate of Explosion of Hydrogen and Nitrous Oxide, with excess of 
(1) Hydrogen, (2) Nitrogen. 
(V) 
]\Iixture. 
2 vols. hydrogen 
2 vols. nitrous oxide. 
H 2 + N 2 O 
With addition of 
2 vols. hydrogen. 
H 2 + N 2 O + H 2 
With addition of 
4 vols. hydrogen. 
Ho + NsO + H^ 
With addition of j 
5 vols. hydrogen. 
H 3 + N 2 O + H 5 j 
Theory, d . . 
2319 
2374 
2396 
2400 
Found, V 
2305 
2545 
2705 
2732 
MDCCCXCIIT.—A. 
S 
