ART. 241 - On the Character of the Impurity found in Nitrogen Gas Derived from Urea [with an Appendix containing details of Refractometer]

Summary

It has already been recorded that nitrogen, prepared from urea by the action of sodium hypobromite or hypochlorite, is contaminated with an impurity heavier than nitrogen. The weight of pure nitrogen in the globe employed being 2·299 grams, the gas obtained with hypochlorite was 36 milligrams, or about 1½ per cent., heavier. “A test with alkaline pyrogallate appeared to prove the absence from this gas of free oxygen, and only a trace of carbon could be detected when a considerable quantity of the gas was passed over red-hot cupric oxide into solution of baryta.” Most gases heavier than nitrogen are excluded from consideration by the thorough treatment with alkali to which the material in question is subjected. In view of the large amount of the impurity, and of the fact that it was removed by passage over red-hot iron, I inclined to identify it with nitrous oxide; but it appeared that there were strong chemical objections to this explanation, and so the matter was left open at that time. This summer I have returned to it; and although it is difficult to establish by direct evidence the presence of nitrous oxide, I think there can remain little doubt that this is the true explanation of the anomaly. I need scarcely say that there is here no question of argon beyond the minute traces that might be dissolved in the liquids employed.