Page:The Liquefaction of Gases.djvu/76

72 first four were made with the imperfect apparatus, when the gas was continually making its escape through the stop-cock.

Into the glass receiver, of three cubic inches and a half capacity, were compressed in the following order: Hidrogen, two (wine) pints; oxigen, two pints; nitrogen, two pints. The result was, water which bedewed the inside of the receiver; white floating vapours (probably the gaseous oxide of nitrogen); and an acid which reddened litmus paper. Mr. Accum was present at this experiment, and from his opinion, as well as from succeeding experiments, I have reason to think that this acid is the nitric.

As a difference of arrangement in the order of the gases tends considerably to vary the result, I repeated the former experiment (having first poured a little lime-water into the receiver) by injecting first the oxigen, about three pints, then equal quantities of hidrogen and nitrogen. Much of this gas escaped, owing to the imperfection of the instrument; but upon the affusion of the nitrogen, the white vapours again appeared in the receiver; water seemed likewise to be formed; and some yellow particles were seen floating upon the lime-water. These particles probably arose from the resinous substance, used in fastening on the cap of the receiver, being dissolved by the nitrous gas formed during condensation.

I would just observe, that the magnet seemed to be affected during this experiment; but as there is iron used in the machine, this may be otherwise accounted for.

Two pints of carbonic acid, and two of hidrogen, were