_a._ Though nitrous oxide and sulphurated hydrogene do not act
upon each other at common temperatures, yet they undergo a mutual
decomposition when mingled together in certain proportions, and ignited
by the electric spark.
From more than twenty experiments made on the inflammation of
sulphurated hydrogene in nitrous oxide, I select the following as the
most conclusive and accurate. The temperature at which they were made
was from 41° to 49°.
_b._ _E._ 1. About 35 measures of nitrous oxide were fired with 10
of sulphurated hydrogene; the expansion during inflammation was very
great, and the flame sky-blue. Immediately after, the gases filled
a space equal to 48 nearly. White fumes were then formed, and they
gradually contracted to 40. On the admission of a little strontian
lime water, a slight absorption took place, with white precipitation;
and the volume occupied by the residual gas nearly equalled 37. On
admitting nitrous gas to these, no perceptible diminution took place.
_E._ 2. 20 sulphurated hydrogene, with 25 nitrous oxide, could not be
inflamed.