Page:The Liquefaction of Gases.djvu/77

Rh subjected to condensation. The result was, a watery vapour, and a gas of rather offensive smell.

Trying to inflame phosphorus by the condensation of atmospheric air, the bottom of the machine (where it had been repaired) burst out with an explosion. This happened when I had immersed the apparatus in water to discover where the air escaped. The receiver was full of the fumes of the phosphorus, which was itself dispersed in the vessel of water. I afterwards repeated this experiment with the more perfect apparatus, but I could not inflame the phosphorus, and the fumes which arose at first soon disappeared. There was just enough acid (probably phosphoric) formed in the inside of the receiver to tinge litmus.

Having now the spring-valve, and new receiver of five cubic inches and a half capacity, I poured in two scruples of solution of potash, and then injected two pints of hidrogen, two of nitrogen, and three of oxigen. This quantity was hardly sufficient for the capacity of the receiver, and the result was only a smell of the gaseous oxide of nitrogen, a few yellowish fumes, and scarce enough acidity to tinge the edge of the test paper: of course, I could not effect the formation of nitrate of potash.

I now determined to begin with the nitrogen, which always appeared to me to undergo the most important chemical changes, and therefore injected two pints of nitrogen, three of oxigen, and two of hidrogen. Upon the condensation of the nitrogen, it speedily assumed an orange-red colour, which upon the accession of the oxigen, gradually diminished, and at length disappeared,