Abstract
MR. A. PARKER (Jour. Chem. Soc., April, 1914) in a study of the inflammation of mixtures of methane with oxygen and nitrogen, has found that inflammation can be brought about more easily in mixtures containing nitrogen than in pure oxygen. In fact, the mixture which requires for ignition a minimum of methane contains only about 23 per cent. of oxygen. This unexpected result is traced to the difference in the specific heats of oxygen and nitrogen, and not to any property of methane. If one may assume that combustions at other temperatures behave in a similar manner, perhaps all slow combustions can be maintained with a minimum expenditure of energy in a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen containing about 23 per cent of oxygen.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
CAMPBELL, N. The Composition of the Atmosphere. Nature 93, 507 (1914). https://doi.org/10.1038/093507c0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/093507c0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.