_a._ It has been mentioned in Res. II. Div. I. that phosphorated
hydrogene and nitrous oxide posses no action on each other, at
atmospheric temperatures.
Phosphorated hydrogene mingled with nitrous oxide, is capable of being
inflamed by the electric spark, or by ignition.
_b. E._ 1. 10 grain measures of phosphorated hydrogene, carefully
produced by means of phosphorus and solution of caustic alkali, were
mingled with 52 measures of nitrous oxide. The electric spark passed
through them, produced a vivid inflammation. The elastic products were
clouded with dense white vapor, and after some minutes filled a space
nearly equal to 60. On the introduction of water, no absorption took
place. When 43 of nitrous gas were admitted, the whole diminished to
70.
_E._ 2. 25 of nitrous oxide were fired with 10 of phosphorated
hydrogene, by the electric spark. After detonation[176] they filled
a space exactly equal to 25. On the admission of solution of green
sulphate of iron, and prussiate of potash, no blue or green precipitate
was produced. On the introduction of water, no diminution was
perceived. 25 of nitrous gas mingled with them, gave exactly 50.
[176] In this experiment, as in the last, dense white vapor was
produced.
_E._ 3. 10 of nitrous oxide, mingled with 20 of phosphorated hydrogene,
could not be inflamed.
25 of nitrous oxide, with 20 phosphorated hydrogene, inflamed. The
gas after detonation, was rendered opaque by dense white vapor, and
filled a space nearly equal to 45. No absorption took place when
water was introduced. On admitting a little oxygene no white fumes,
or diminution, was perceived. The electric spark passed through the
mixture, produced an explosion, with great diminution.
_c._ From _E._ 1 it appears, that when a small quantity of
phosphorated hydrogene is inflamed with nitrous oxide, both the
phosphorus and hydrogene are consumed; whilst the superabundant
nitrous oxide, is converted into nitrous acid and atmospheric air,
by the ignition; or a certain quantity is partially decomposed into
atmospheric air by the combination of a portion of its oxygene with the
combustible gas.
From _E._ 2 we learn, that when the phosphorated hydrogene and nitrous
oxide are to each other as 25 to 10 nearly, they both disappear, whilst
nitrogene is evolved, and water and phosphoric acid produced. Reasoning
concerning the composition of nitrous oxide from this experiment,
we should conclude that it was composed of about 38 oxygene, and 62
nitrogene.
The result of _E._ 3 is interesting; we are taught from it that the
affinity of phosphorus for the oxygene of nitrous oxide is stronger
than that of hydrogene, at the temperature of ignition; so that when
phosphorated hydrogene is mingled with a quantity of nitrous oxide, not
containing sufficient oxygene to burn both its constituent parts, the
phosphorus only is consumed, whilst the hydrogene is liberated.
In repeating the experiments with phosphorated hydrogene that had
remained for some hours in the mercurial apparatus, I did not gain
exactly the same results; for a larger quantity of it was required to
decompose the nitrous oxide, than in the former experiments; doubtless
from its having deposited a portion of its phosphorus. They confirm,
however, the above mentioned conclusions.
In the course of experimenting, I passed the electric spark, for
a quarter of an hour, through about 60 measures of phosphorated
hydrogene. It underwent no alteration of volume. Phosphorus was
apparently precipitated from it, and it had wholly lost its power of
inflaming, in contact with common air.