_E._ 1. Temperature being 53°, 35 of nitrous oxide, mingled with 15 of hydrocarbonate, were fired by the electric spark; the inflammation was very vivid, and the light produced, bright red. After the explosion, the space occupied by the gases equalled about 60. On the admission of solution of strontian, a copious white precipitate was produced, and the gas diminished by agitation, to rather more than 35. When 36 of nitrous gas were added to these, white fumes appeared and the whole diminished to 62. When a little muriatic acid was poured on the white precipitate from the solution of strontian, gas was evolved from it, and it was gradually dissolved. _E._ 2. 22 nitrous oxide were inflamed with 20 hydrocarbonate; after the explosion, they filled a space equal to 45; when strontian lime water was introduced, white precipitation took place, and the diminution was to 31. To these 31, 14 of nitrous oxide were admitted, and the electric spark passed through them; an inflammation took place: carbonic acid was formed, after the absorption of which, the gas remaining filled a space equal to 43, and did not diminish with nitrous gas. The hydrocarbonate employed in these experiments, was procured from alcohol by means of sulphuric acid. In another set of experiments made with less accuracy, the same general results were obtained. Whenever hydrocarbonate inflamed with nitrous oxide, both its constituents were oxygenated; in all cases carbonic acid was formed, and in no instance free hydrogene evolved, or charcoal precipitated. In the decomposition of nitrous oxide by hydrocarbonate, the residual nitrogene is less than in other combustions. This circumstance I am unable to explain. Reasoning from analogy, there can be little doubt, but that when hydrocarbonate is inflamed with excess of nitrous oxide, it will be only partially decompounded, or converted into nitrogene, nitrous acid, and atmospheric air. The Dutch Chemists have asserted, that charcoal does not burn in nitrous oxide, except in consequence of the previous decomposition of the gas by the hydrogene always contained in this substance; and likewise, that when hydrocarbonate and nitrous oxide were mingled together, and fired by the electric spark, the hydrogene only was burnt, whilst the charcoal was precipitated. It is difficult to account for these numerous mistakes. Their theory of the _non-respirability_ of nitrous oxide was founded upon them. They supposed that the chief use of respiration was to deprive the blood of its superabundant carbon, by the combination of atmospheric oxygene with that principle; and that nitrous oxide was highly fatal to life, because it was incapable of de-carbonating the blood[178]!! [178] Journal de Physique, xliii. 334. X. _Combustion of Iron in Nitrous Oxide._