28S

PROPERTIES OF NITROUS ACID.

NITMOUS ACI3D*

PART LXXXIV.

It was until very lately a generally received notion, that theproportion of oxigen in nitrous acid was less than that existingin the nitric acid, and that it was therefore less oxigenated j butthis is certainly not the case. Mr. Thompson’s* remarks con-cerning nitrous acid, and Davy’sf observations are sufficient toprove the contrary ; with these gentlemen, we consider nitrousacid as nothing more than nitric acid holding in solution, that is,loosely combined with it, a greater or less quantity of nitrousgas, and being therefore more or less coloured and fuming, ac-cording to the quantity of gas it contains.

PROPERTIES OF NITROUS ACID.

Nitrous acid exists in the state of gas, in the form of a redvapour, slightly coercible. When combined with water it is ofa yellow or orange colour. It emits copious orange-coloured, orred fumes. It is more decomposable than nitric acid and in-flames combustible bodies more readily. It has a strong attrac-tion for water, and their combination is attended with an increaseof temperature. Different portions of water convert its colour toa deep blue, green, yellow, See. while the vapours still continueof their original yellowish-red colour.

Davy’s Researches, fire. p. 31.

t Ibid, p. 32.