THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
389 
The composition of the powder analyzed by Bunsen and SchischkofF 
was—- 
Charcoal. 
Nitrate of potash, 
Sulphur.. 
'Carbon. 
Hydrogen. 
Oxygen. 
„Ash ............... 
78*99 
9*84 
7*69 
0*41 
3*07 
0*00 
100*00 
For the qualitative analysis of the products of combustion, two cylinders 
were filled with the two kinds of powder, made air-tight, and successively 
exploded in the mortar in the manner described. 
For both kinds there were found in the solid residue:—(l) sulphate of 
potash, ( 2 ) carbonate of potash, ( 3 ) hyposulphite of potash, ( 4 ) sesqui- 
carbonate of ammonia, ( 5 ) sulphur, ( 6 ) charcoal, ( 7 ) sulphide of potassium. 
The latter, in the case of the small-arms powder, was only formed in very 
small quantities. 
The gaseous .products of combustion were (l) nitrogen, (2) carbonic acid, 
( 3 ) carbonic oxide, ( 4 ) hydrogen, ( 5 ) sulphuretted hydrogen, ( 6 ) marsh-gas, 
and a very small quantity of a bisulphide of carbon compound, which was 
distinctly recognized by its odour as being that produced in the gases from 
gun-cotton. The whole mixture is colourless, and contains no fume or 
vapour. 
(a) Ordnance Powder . 
For the quantitative determination of the products of combustion, 36*8366 
grms. were used. 
The gas passed into three absorption-tubes amounted to 75*3 cubic 
centims.; the gas issuing from the mortar until the rest was under the 
atmospheric pressure amounted to 5480*7 cubic centims. at 16° C. and 
0*749 metre pressure; under these circumstances the mortar holds 5216 
cubic centims.; hence the above quantity yielded 7621*96 cubic centims. 
gas at 0° and 1 metre pressure. 
The absorption-analysis produced—• Voi. at o° 
and 1 metre 
Volume. Pressure. Temp, pressure. 
Original volume . 90*72 0*6028 16*2 61*63 
After absorption of CO 2 and HS 63*71 0*5705 14*3 29*12 
From the estimation of the potash-bulb with iodine solution, it followed that 
the sulphuretted hydrogen corresponded to 0*44 division. Hence the above 
gas consisted of 0*44 vol. sulphuretted hydrogen, 22*07 carbonic acid, and 
of 29*12 nitrogen and combustible gases. 
The explosion-analysis of the gas freed from sulphuretted hydrogen and 
carbonic acid and transferred to the eudiometer, was as follows:— 
Vol. at 0° 
and 1 metre. 
Volume. 
Pressure. 
Temp. 
pressure. 
Original volume... 
. 113*26 
0*2729 
15*6 
28*8 
After addition of air . 
. 183*36 
0*3494 
16*8 
60*36 
After addition of oxygen . 
. 204*32 
0*4295 
16*4 
71*79 
After explosion . 
. 185*62 
0*3522 
15*4 
61*89 
After absorption of CO 2 ...... 
. 167*90 
0*3478 
15*1 
65*31 
After addition of H . 
. 224*67 
0*4068 
16*2 
86*30 
After explosion .. 
0*3355 
15*7 
52*79 
