_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. VI. _Decomposition of Nitrous Oxide by Sulphur._ From the phænomena before mentioned,[177] relating to the combustion of sulphur in nitrous oxide, it was evident that this gas was only decomposable by it, at a much higher temperature than common air. [177] Res. I. Div. III. S. II. I introduced into sulphur in contact with nitrous oxide, over mercury heated to 112°-114°, a wire intensely ignited. It lost much of its heat in passing through the mercury, but still appeared red in the vessel. The sulphur rapidly fused, and sublimed without being at all luminous. This experiment was repeated five or six times, but in no instance could the combustion of sulphur, by means of the ignited wire, be effected. I inflamed sulphur in nitrous oxide in the same manner as phosphorus; namely, by introducing it into the small vessel filled with oxygene, and igniting it by means of the heated wire. In these experiments the sulphur burnt with a vivid rose-colored light, and much sulphuric, with a little sulphureous acid, was formed.