OF AZOT. 
Azotite of potass may be formed by the following 
process : Nitrous gas (a substance which will be de 
scribed immediately), by confining in it crystallized 
sulphite of potass , is gradually deprived of a portion 
of its oxygen, and converted into oxide of azot. If 
very finely pulverised sulphite of potass, mixed with 
potass, be exposed for a great length of time in a suffi 
cient quantity of nitrous gas, it is changed almost com 
pletely into sulphat of potass, while the oxide of azot, 
as it is evolved, combines with the pure potass. Con 
sequently the salt is converted into a mixture of sul 
phat of potass and azotite of potass. The sulphat may 
be separated by solution, evaporation, and crystalliza 
tion in a low temperature. 
Azotite of potass is obtained in irregular crystals. 
It is composed of akout three parts of alkali and one 
part of oxide of azot. It is soluble in water. Its taste 
is caustic, and it has a peculiar pungency. It converts 
vegetable blues into green. Pulverized charcoal, mix 
ed with it, and inflamed, burns with slight scintillations. 
When projected into zinc in fusion, a slight inflammâ 
tion takes place. All acids, even carbonic, seem ca 
pable of expelling the oxide of azot from the potasst. 
The other properties of this salt have not been exa 
mined. 
guage, but because the term nitrous oxide (from which it is derived) 
cannot be applied to oxide of azot without the risk of confounding it 
with nitrous gas, to which that name has been already assigned 
* Potass combined with sulphurous acid. This salt has a strong affi 
nity for oxygen. It absorbs it from nitrous gas, and is converted into 
sulphat of potars. Hence the change of nitrous gas to gascous oxide of 
azot. 
Davy, p. 262. 
1i 
VoL. I. 
497 
Chap. I.