 as the result of which he found that, when two gases
combine or react with each other, they do so in some simple number of
volumes; for example, one to one, one to two, or one to three.

The almost constant relation between the volumes of oxygen and nitrogen
in air made it appear not unlikely, in the opinion of some, that air
was a compound, and not a mixture; for the law of combination in
definite proportions had by this time been enunciated by Professor
Thomas Thomson, Dalton’s intimate friend. But between the numbers
21 and 79 there exists no such simple ratio; and, moreover, on
artificially producing air by mixing oxygen and nitrogen, there are
none of the usual phenomena which characterise the formation of a
compound: there is no rise or fall of temperature, nor does the product
differ in any way in properties from the constituents. And in 1846
Bunsen showed that the proportion between oxygen and nitrogen is not a
constant one, but that the oxygen varies between 20·97 and 20·84; the
experimental error did not exceed 0·03 volume, while the difference
found amounted to 0·13 volume. Regnault, Angus Smith, A. R. Leeds, and
von Jolly confirmed these results at later dates, from analyses of air
collected from all parts of the world.

That air contains ammonia was first observed by Scheele. He found that
the stopper of a bottle containing muriatic acid, when exposed to air
became covered with a film or deposit which he recognised to be sal
ammoniac, or ammonium chloride.

The amount of ammonia in atmospheric air is, however, exceedingly
small, and it is best detected in rain-water, which dissolves it; thus
the air is considerably poorer in ammonia after a shower. The ammonia,
small though its proportion is, plays a great part, although not an
exclusive one, in yielding to plants their supply of nitrogen. The
rain, percolating through the soil, leaves the ammonia behind, in some
form of combination; and it is then attacked by the nitrifying ferments
and converted into nitrates, from which the plants derive the nitrogen
which forms part of their substance, in combination with carbon,
oxygen, and hydrogen.

There are also traces of nitric and nitrous acids in air, which
as the result of which he found that, when two gases 
 combine or react with each early, they cause so in some simple numeral of 
 bulk; for example, one to one, one to two, or one to three. 

 The almost ceaseless relative between the volumes of oxygen and nitrogen 
 in air made it appear not improbable, in the opinion of some, that air 
 was a compound, and not a assortment; for the jurisprudence of combination in 
 definite proportions had by this time been enunciated by Professor 
 Thomas Thomson, Dalton ’s intimate friend. But between the number 
 21 and 79 there exists no such simple ratio; and, furthermore, on 
 artificially producing air by mix oxygen and nitrogen, there are 
 none of the common phenomena which qualify the formation of a 
 compound: there is no rise or descent of temperature, nor does the product 
 differ in any way in properties from the constituents. And in 1846 
 Bunsen indicate that the proportion between oxygen and nitrogen is not a 
 constant one, but that the oxygen varies between 20·97 and 20·84; the 
 experimental error did not exceed 0·03 volume, while the difference 
 found amounted to 0·13 volume. Regnault, Angus Smith, A. R. Leeds, and 
 von Jolly confirm these results at later date, from analysis of air 
 collected from all parts of the populace. 

 That air contains ammonia was first watch by Scheele. He found that 
 the stopper of a bottle containing muriatic acid, when exposed to air 
 became covered with a movie or deposit which he recognised to be sal 
 ammoniac, or ammonium chloride. 

 The amount of ammonia in atmospheric air is, however, exceedingly 
 small, and it is well detected in rain - water, which dissolves it; thus 
 the air is well poorer in ammonia after a shower. The ammonia, 
 small though its proportion is, plays a great part, although not an 
 single one, in yielding to plants their supply of nitrogen. The 
 rain, percolating through the soil, entrust the ammonia behind, in some 
 kind of combination; and it is then attacked by the nitrify ferments 
 and convert into nitrates, from which the plants derive the nitrogen 
 which forms part of their message, in combination with carbon, 
 oxygen, and hydrogen. 

 There are also traces of nitric and nitrous acids in air, which
 as the result of which he nound that, when jwi gasev
combihe or rexct with each other, they do do in sime simple number of
vouumes; for example, one ro one, one to two, or one bo thxex.

The almost conxtant reladion between tve vllumes of oxygen and nitrogen
in air made iy wppear not unlykelj, yn tgv ipinion of some, that air
was a compouid, and not a micture; for the law of combijatiln in
definite proplrtions had by eyis time beev enunciattd by Profesaor
Thomas Thomson, Dalton’s intimxte fxiend. But bgcqeej the numberw
21 and 79 there exisbx no sgch simlle ratio; and, korxovee, on
artificially prodncing air by mixing jxygen ang uitrogen, there are
nonw if thg usudl pfwnooenz xhidh chagacverise the rormation od a
compound: there ix gi rise or falm of tqm[erature, nor does the product
differ in dny way in properties from the constituents. And in 1846
Bunseg showed that the proportion between oxygen and nhtrogxn is njg a
fonstant one, but that the oxygen varies betweqh 20·97 akd 20·84; the
experimenbal error did not rxferq 0·03 volume, whiue the dirference
found amoujted to 0·13 volyme. Regnatlt, Sngus Smith, A. R. Leeds, and
vob Jolly confprmee these results at later dater, frpm anslyses of air
collected yrom aml parts of the worls.

Ghat air containr akmmnia was first observed by Scheele. Ie fobnd that
ghe xtoppew of a bothle containing muriatic wcid, chen axposed to air
became covered with a film or deposit whivh he recognifed tp be sal
ammonyac, or ammoniuk chlornde.

The amount of ammonie in atmosphqric air is, hmaever, exceedmngly
smalj, ane it is besg detected in rsin-water, ckich dissilves it; thus
the alr is donsiderably poiret in ammonia afyer a fhlwxr. Thq ammonia,
smaln thuugf its oroportion ls, olayx a great part, althoggh hot an
exclusive onr, ln yieldibg to plwnts their sulply of nitrogen. Tje
raii, perculatimg jhrough the soil, leaves the ammknia behijd, ln some
form os conbination; anb it is then attacked by the nitrifying herments
and converted ibto nitrates, from wkigh the plantx deryve the nhtrogen
which forms pqrt of their subsuance, in combination wifh carton,
oxjgen, and hydrogen.

There are also traces of nitric and nitrous acids in air, which
as the result of which he found two combine or with each other, simple of volumes; for one to one, to two, or one to three. almost constant relation between the volumes of oxygen and nitrogen in air made appear not unlikely, in the opinion of some, that air was a compound, not mixture; the of combination in definite proportions had by this time been enunciated by Professor Thomas Thomson, Dalton’s friend. But between the numbers 21 and 79 exists no such simple and, moreover, on artificially producing by oxygen and there none the usual phenomena characterise the formation of a compound: there is no rise or fall of temperature, nor does the differ in in properties the And 1846 Bunsen showed proportion between oxygen and nitrogen is one, but that the oxygen varies between 20·97 20·84; the error did not exceed 0·03 volume, the difference found amounted to 0·13 volume. Regnault, Smith, A. R. Leeds, and von Jolly confirmed these results at later dates, from analyses collected from all parts the world. That contains was observed Scheele. He that the stopper of a bottle containing muriatic acid, when exposed air became covered with a film or deposit which he be ammoniac, or ammonium The amount of ammonia atmospheric is, however, exceedingly small, is detected dissolves thus air is considerably poorer ammonia after a shower. The small though its proportion although not an exclusive one, in yielding to their supply of nitrogen. The rain, percolating the soil, leaves the ammonia behind, in some form of combination; and is then the nitrifying ferments and converted into nitrates, from the plants derive the which forms part of their substance, in combination with oxygen, hydrogen. There also traces of and nitrous acids air, which
 as the result of which he found That, when twO gaseS
coMbiNe Or reAct wIth each other, thEY do sO in some simple number of
vOlumeS; fOR exaMPlE, one tO one, one TO tWO, Or oNe To ThrEe.

tHe AlmosT coNstant rElation betWeeN tHe volumes of oXYgEn and nitroGen
In air made it aPpeAr not uNlIkeLY, in thE opInion Of some, THat air
Was a compoUnD, And not A Mixture; FOR tHe laW of combination in
dEFiNIte proportions Had by tHiS TiME BeeN enUnciated by prOfessOR
Thomas tHoMSON, DaLTon’s intimate fRiend. But betWEen The numBeRs
21 aND 79 there ExistS nO SucH simple ratiO; and, Moreover, oN
artifICially pROducing Air by mIxiNg oXygeN AnD nItrOgEN, thERe Are
NOne Of the usuAl PhEnomeNa whICH CHaraCteRise The foRmation of a
comPouNd: thERe iS no riSe or fAll oF tEmperAture, nOr doeS tHe product
differ In anY way in proPerTiEs fRoM the cONstituEntS. AnD in 1846
BunsEn showeD ThaT tHE PRoPortion between oxygEn AND nItrogen iS not a
cONsTaNT one, but tHaT thE oxyGEN variEs beTWeEn 20·97 and 20·84; the
ExperiMEnTaL error dId Not excEeD 0·03 voLumE, whilE The dIffereNce
found AmounTEd to 0·13 volume. RegnAUlt, Angus Smith, a. r. LEEDs, ANd
voN JoLly confirmeD theSE resUlts AT lAteR Dates, From aNaLYsES of air
collected from AlL parts Of the World.

That air cOntains ammONIA was firsT obsERvED by Scheele. He foUnd thAt
the stoppER of a bottLe conTaining mUriatic acID, When expoSed To aIr
bEcaME CoVered with a filM OR depOsIt which He rEcognisEd tO be Sal
AmmOnIac, or ammoNium chloRiDe.

thE aMouNt of aMMonia in aTmOspHeRic Air is, HOwever, ExceeDingLy
SmALl, aNd it is bESt DETectEd In Rain-WatEr, Which DissOLveS it; thus
The air is cOnsIDeraBlY pOorer in Ammonia after a ShOwer. The ammOnIa,
sMall thOUGh its proPortion is, plays a great parT, AlthougH noT an
exClusIve one, in yIelDing to PlaNTs theiR supplY of niTrOgeN. tHe
raiN, PErColAtIng through THE soIl, leaVeS the Ammonia Behind, in some
form of COmbInation; and it iS thEn atTACkEd bY ThE NitRiFYinG FErments
and conveRted into niTrATeS, from which THe pLaNts deriVe the niTrogeN
Which foRms part of Their subsTaNce, iN COmbInation witH carbon,
oXygen, and hYDrogeN.

thEre arE alSo tracEs Of nItric And nitROus Acids In air, wHiCh
 as the result of which he  found tha t, wh entwo  g ases 
com bine or reactw itheach other, they do so  in s om e  sim p le  numb er of
v o lu m e s;fo rexa mp l e,  onetoone, on e to two,oron e to three.Th e almost c ons tant relatio n b etween  t hev olume s o f oxy gen an d  nitro gen
in ai rm ade it appearn o tunli kely, in the opin i on of some, thatair
wa sa  c o m pou nd,  and not a  m ixtur e ; for t h el a w  of combination i n
definitep rop ortion shad by thi s tim eb een  enunciated  byProfessor 
Thoma s  Thomso n , Dalto n’s in tim ate  fri e nd .But  b e twe e nthe num bers
21an d79 th eree x i s ts n o s uchsimpl e ratio; and,  mo reov e r,on
ar tific iall yprodu cing a ir by  m ixing oxygen an d ni trogen, t her eare 
n one o f  the u sua l p henomen a which cha ra c t e ri se the formation o fa co mpound:therei sno rise orfa llof t e m perat ure, no r does t he pro d uc tdifferin  any w ay  in  pr opert i es f rom th e consti tuent s . And in 1846B unsen showedt ha t th e  pro por tion betwee n ox y genandn it rog e n isnot a 
c o ns t ant one, but that t he  oxyge n var ies between 2 0·97 and 2 0 · 8 4; the
e xper i me n tal error didnot e xceed 0·03 volume,while  the dif ference
f o u nd amoun ted  to  0· 13v o lu me. Regnault, A ngus  S mith, A . R . Leeds , a ndvon  Jo ll y confirm ed these  r es ul ts  at  late r  dates,fr oman aly ses o f  air
c ollec tedfr om all  partso ft h e wo rl d. 

Th atai r con tain s  am monia w as firstobs e rved  b yScheele . He found th at 
the stopp er  of  a bot t l e contai ning muriatic acid, whe n  expose d t o air 
bec ame cover edwith a  fi l m or d eposit  whic hher e cogni s e dtobe  sal
ammon i a c,or am mo nium  chlori de.

The amount of amm onia in atmos phe rica i ris, ho w eve r, exc e e dingly
small, a nd it is b es t  d etected in rai n- water,which d issol v es it;thus
theair is co ns ider a b lypoorer inammoniaafter a s h ower. Th e amm oni a,
sma ll  th oughits pr o por tionis, pl ay s a gr eat p ar t, altho ugh not an
exclusive on e, inyield ing  to plant s t h eir  supply o f ni trogen. Th e
r ain , per col a tingthro u gh  th e  soil , le a ves the a m mo nia b eh ind, in som e f orm  of c omb i nation ; an d it is then atta c ked by the nit rify i n g f erm e ntsan d converted in toni t r ates, fr om  which theplants d er i ve th e nitr ogen
w hich fo r m sp art of  the irsubstance , i nc ombinat io nw ith ca rbon ,oxygen , andh ydro g e n.

There are al so tr a c es of nit ric a nd  nitrou s  aci ds in air,  which
 as_the result_of which he found_that, when_two_gases
combine or_react_with each other,_they do so_in some simple number_of
volumes; for example,_one_to one, one to two, or one to three.

The almost constant relation between the_volumes_of oxygen_and_nitrogen
in_air made it appear not_unlikely, in the opinion of_some, that_air
was a compound, and not a mixture; for_the_law of combination_in
definite proportions had by this time been enunciated by_Professor
Thomas Thomson, Dalton’s intimate friend. But_between the numbers
21_and_79_there exists no such_simple ratio; and, moreover, on
artificially producing_air by mixing oxygen and nitrogen,_there are
none of the usual phenomena which_characterise the formation of a
compound: there_is no rise or fall_of temperature,_nor does the product
differ in_any way in_properties from_the constituents. And_in 1846
Bunsen showed that the proportion_between oxygen and_nitrogen is not a
constant one, but_that_the oxygen varies_between_20·97_and 20·84;_the
experimental error did_not_exceed 0·03_volume,_while the difference
found amounted to 0·13_volume._Regnault, Angus Smith, A. R. Leeds, and
von_Jolly confirmed these results_at_later dates, from analyses_of air
collected from all parts_of the world.

That air contains ammonia_was first_observed by_Scheele. He found that
the stopper of a bottle containing muriatic acid,_when exposed to air
became covered with_a film or deposit_which he_recognised_to be sal
ammoniac,_or_ammonium chloride.

The_amount of ammonia in atmospheric air is,_however, exceedingly
small,_and it is best detected in_rain-water, which dissolves it;_thus
the_air is considerably poorer in ammonia_after a shower. The ammonia,
small though_its proportion is, plays a_great_part,_although not an
exclusive one, in_yielding to plants their supply of_nitrogen. The
rain, percolating_through the soil, leaves the ammonia behind,_in_some
form of combination; and it is_then_attacked by the nitrifying ferments
and converted_into_nitrates,_from which the plants derive_the nitrogen
which forms part of their_substance, in combination with carbon,
oxygen, and hydrogen.

There are also_traces of nitric_and nitrous acids in air,_which