_a._ The discoverer of nitrous oxide first observed its solubility in
water; and it has since been noticed by different experimentalists.
Dr. Priestley found that water dissolved about one half of its bulk
of nitrous oxide, and that at the temperature of ebullition, this
substance was incapable of remaining in combination with it.[153]
[153] Experiments and observations, vol. ii. pag. 81.
_b._ I introduced to 9 cubic inches of pure water, i. e. water
distilled under mercury, 7 cubic inches of nitrous oxide, which
had been obtained over mercury, from the decomposition of nitrate
of ammoniac, and in consequence was perfectly pure. After they had
remained together for 11 hours, temperature being 46°, during which
time they were frequently agitated, the gas remaining was 2,3;
consequently 4,7 cubic inches had been absorbed. And then, 100 cubic
inches, = 25300 grains of water, will absorb 54 cubic inches, = 27
grains, of nitrous oxide.
_c._ The taste of water impregnated with nitrous oxide, is distinctly
sweetish; it is softer than common water, and, in my opinion, much more
agreeable to the palate. It produces no alteration in vegetable blues,
and effects no change of color in metallic solutions.
_d._ Thinking that water impregnated with nitrous oxide might probably
produce some effects when taken into the stomach, by giving out
its gas, I drank, in June, 1799, about 3 ounces of it, but without
perceiving any effects.
A few days ago, considering this quantity as inadequate, I took at two
draughts nearly a pint, fully saturated; and at this time Mr. Joseph
Priestley drank the same quantity.
We neither of us perceived any remarkable effects.
Since that time I have drank near three pints of it in the course of a
day. In this instance it appeared to act as a diuretic, and I imagined
that it expedited digestion. As a matter of taste, I should always
prefer it to common water.
_e._ Two cubic inches of pure water, that had been made to absorb
about 1,1 cubic inches of nitrous oxide; when kept for some time in
ebullition, and then rapidly cooled, produced nearly 1 of gas. Sulphur
burnt in this gas with a vivid rose-colored flame.
In another experiment, in which the gas was expelled by heat from
impregnated water, and absorbed again after much agitation on cooling;
the residuum was hardly perceptible, and most likely depended upon some
gas which had adhered to the mercury, and was liberated during the
ebullition. Hence it appears that nitrous oxide is expelled unaltered
from its aqueous solution by heat.
_f._ I have before mentioned, Division III, that nitrous oxide, during
its combination with spring water, expels the common air dissolved in
it. This common air generally amounts to one sixteenth, the volume of
the water being unity. A correction on account of this circumstance
must be made for the apparent deficiency of diminution, and for the
common air mingled in consequence, with nitrous oxide during its
absorption by common water.
_g._ Water impregnated with nitrous gas absorbed nitrous oxide; but the
residual gas was much greater than that of common water, and gave red
fumes with atmospheric air. Nitrous gas agitated for a long while over
water highly impregnated with nitrous oxide, was not in the slightest
degree diminished, in one experiment indeed it was rather increased;
doubtless from the liberation of some nitrous oxide from the water by
the agitation.
_h._ Nitrous oxide kept in contact with aqueous solution of sulphurated
hydrogene and often agitated, was not in the slightest degree
diminished.
Sulphurated hydrogene, introduced into a solution of nitrous oxide, was
rapidly absorbed, and as the process advanced, the nitrous oxide was
given out.
_i._ Water impregnated with carbonic acid, possessed no action upon
nitrous oxide, and did not in the slightest degree absorb it. When
carbonic acid was introduced to an aqueous solution of nitrous oxide;
the aëriform acid was absorbed, and the nitrous oxide liberated.
_k._ From these observations it appears that nitrous oxide has less
affinity for water, than even the weaker acids, sulphurated hydrogene
and carbonic acid; as indeed one might have conjectured a priori from
its degree of solubility: likewise that it has a stronger attraction
for water than the gases not possessed of acid or alkaline properties;
it expelling from water nitrous gas, oxygene, and common air; probably
hydrocarbonate, hydrogene, and nitrogene.