Composition, Purification, and Certain Constants of Ammonia (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Composition, Purification, and Certain Constants of Ammonia

In 1892 H. Von Strombeck 7 found the following impurities to be present in American liquefied ammonia, without, however, furnishing conclusive identification in every case, namely, water, methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl alcohols, acetone, and carbon dioxide (present as ammonium carbonate). In addition, there were found mineral oil, sand, iron oxide, and iron sulphide, which may be regarded as accidental impurities introduced during liquefaction or from the iron containers. In 1897 A. Lange and J. Hertz identified with considerable certainty the following impurities, namely, water, pyridine and some of its homologs, nicotine, ethyl alcohol, acetonitrile, ammonium carbonate, and mineral oil. Benzene and naphthalene were found occasionally. They were unable to detect the presence of acetone or Of any alcohols other than ethyl alcohol. The presence of noncondensing gas in the container was also noted. The noncondensing gas present in American samples has been found recently by W. D. Richardson 9 to consist of a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen approaching the composition of air, with in some cases a small amount of hydrogen. K. Urban '2 suggested the occurrence of pyrrol in ammonia, without, however, presenting any proof of its presence.