Elements of chemistry, including the history of the imponderables and the inorganic chemistry of the late Edward Turner / [Edward Turner].

  • Turner, Edward, 1798-1837.
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of chemistry, including the history of the imponderables and the inorganic chemistry of the late Edward Turner / [Edward Turner]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    191/880 (page 165)
    SECTION V. NITROGEN. Hist.—First noticed by Rutherford of Edinburgh in 1772. Discovered to be a constituent of the atmosphere by Lavoisier in 1775, and by Scheele about the same time. It was termed azote, (a privative, and life,) by Lavoisier, from its inability to support respiration. The name of nitrogen is derived from its being an element of nitric acid. Prep.-—1. By burning a piece of phosphorus in a jar full of air inverted over water. The strong affinity of phosphorus for oxygen enables it to bum till the whole of that gas is consumed. The product of the combustion, metaphosphoric acid, is at first diffused through the residue in the form of a white cloud; but as this substance is rapidly absorbed by water, it disappears entirely in the course of half an hour. The residual gas is nitrogen, containing a small quantity of car¬ bonic acid and vapour of phosphorus, both of which maybe removed by agitating it briskly with a solution of pure potassa. Several other substances may be em¬ ployed for withdrawing oxygen from atmospheric air. A solution of protosul¬ phate of iron, charged with binoxide of nitrogen, absorbs the oxygen in the space of a few minutes. A stick of phosphorus produces the same effect in twenty- four hours, if exposed to a temperature of 60°. A solution of sulphuret of potas¬ sium or calcium acts in a similar manner; and a mixture of equal parts of iron filings and sulphur, made into a paste with water, may be employed with the same intention. Both these processes, however, are inconvenient from their slowness.-—2. By exposing a mixture of fresh muscle and nitric acid of sp. gr. 1*20 to a moderate temperature. Effervescence then takes place, and a large quantity of gaseous matter is evolved, which is nitrogen mixed with a little car¬ bonic acid. The latter must be removed by agitation with lime water; but the residue still retains a peculiar odour, indicative of the presence of some volatile principle which cannot be wholly separated from it. The theory of this process is somewhat complex, and will be considered more conveniently in a subsequent part of the work. 3. By transmitting chlorine gas through a solution of ammo¬ nia, when that alkali yields its hydrogen to the chlorine, and its nitrogen is evolved. Prop.—Colourless, tasteless, inodorous; always gaseous when uncombined; sp. gr. 0-9722, so that 100 C.I. weigh 30.166 grains; no action on the blue colour of plants ; water dissolves ly per cent. It is distinguished from other gases more by negative characters than by any striking quality. It is not a supporter of combustion; but, on the contrary, extinguishes all burning bodies that are im¬ mersed in it. No animal can live in it; but yet it exerts no injurious action either on the lungs or on the system at large, the privation of oxygen gas being the sole cause of death. It is not inflammable like hydrogen; though, under favour¬ able circumstances, it may be made to unite with oxygen.