Unpublished paper, 'On the detection of organic and other nitrogenized matter existing in the atmosphere' by Alfred Hutchinson Smee

Description

Smee describes a method which he has devised, and which he names 'distillation by cold', by which he believes the detection and determination of ammonia and other organic impurities existing in the atmosphere will be greatly facilitated. A glass funnel (usually of 8 or 9 inches) is drawn to a point and closed. It is supported in an ordinary stand, and filled with ice. Condensation of the watery vapour of the atmosphere then takes place; the dew collects into drops, which trickle down the outside of the funnel, and at last fall from the point, under which a small receiver is placed to catch them. The total quantity of liquid collected in a given time is measured, and the quantity of ammonia determined by Nessler’s test.

Subject: Chemistry

Received 1 June 1872. Read 20 June 1872.

Whilst the Royal Society declined to publish this paper in full, an abstract of the paper was published in volume 20 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'On the detection of organic and other nitrogenized matter existing in the atmosphere'.

Reference number

AP/54/13

Earliest possible date

1872

Physical description

Ink on paper

Page extent

24 pages

Format

Manuscript