nitrate of ammonia on being decomposed absorbs heat. This excess of oxygen
effectually prevents the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) and the oxides
of nitrogen."

The following table (A), also from Mr Orsman's paper, gives the
composition of five prominent explosives, and shows the composition of the
gases formed on explosion. The gases were collected after detonating 10
grms. of each in a closed strong steel cylinder, having an internal
diameter of 5 inches.

With respect to the influence of ammonium nitrate in lowering the
temperature of explosion of the various substances to which it is added,
it was found by a French Commission that, when dry and finely powdered,
ammonium nitrate succeeds in depreciating the heat of decomposition
without reducing the power of the explosive below a useful limit. The
following table (B) shows the composition of the explosives examined, and
the temperatures which accompanied their explosion.

A
______________________________________________________________________
| | | |
| | | Composition of Gases. |
| |Volume |__________________________|
| Explosive. |of Gas | | | | |
| |formed.|CO_{2}.| CO. |CH_{4}| N. |
| | | | | &H. | |
|___________________________________|_______|_______|_____|______|_____|
| | | | | | |
| | | Per | Per | Per | Per |
| | c.c. | cent. |cent.|cent. |cent.|