Christian Friedrich Schoenbein to Faraday   20 October 1845

My dear Faraday,

Ever since my return from England I have been rather busy and tried to make out the relations which Ozone bears to nitrogen and its oxycompounds. I think I have succeeded in ascertaining some facts being calculated to throw some light upon the cause of what is called spontaneous nitrification and I am inclined to believe that I have extended a little the limits of our knowledge regarding the oxycompounds of Azote. As you will learn from some papers sent to the chemical society¹, my strong opinion is that there exist only three primitive degrees of oxidation of nitrogen, NO, NO<2> and NO<4>. As to the hydrate of nitric acid, it is to me NO<4> + HO<2> and agreeably to that view, I must consider a normal nitrate as NO<4> + RO<2>. It appears to me highly probable that nitrous acid = NO<3> is nothing but a loose compound of NO<4> + NO<2> and a normal nitrite NO<2> + RO<2> instead of NO<3> + RO. The reasons for admitting the existence of a compound = NO<2> + HO<2> seem to me very strong and some facts stated in the papers before mentioned can to my opinion only be accounted for by that admission.

If you think the notice laid by of sufficient importance as to interest the Royal Society, you will oblige me by laying it before that body². If not you have full liberty either to insert it (perhaps in the shape of a letter addressed to you) in the philosophical Magazine or read it before the chemical Society. At any rate, I should be very glad indeed if you would favour me with your opinion about the subjects alluded to in this letter.

Mrs Schoenbein and the children are quite well and charge me to offer both to you and Mrs. Faraday their kindest regards. In the pleasing hopes of hearing soon good news from you, I am my dear Faraday

Your's | most truly | C.F. Schoenbein

Bâle Oct 20th 1845.

P.S. I had nearly forgotten telling you, that I have made a good many experiments on the bleaching powers of atmospheric air ozonized by the means of phosphorus.

The results obtained with linnen are such as to make me believe it possible to bleach oeconomically with ozon and establish a process upon that principle being superior to any hitherto employed. One of the bits of linnen laid by was bleached with the only means of ozone within a fortnight, the other is a pattern of the raw linen. Do you not think that something might be made out of that affair? I am told that a german Chymist who has got some knowledge of my process, is about to take out a patent upon it in England. He ought to be prevented from doing so, as he has no right for it.

Address: Doctor M. Faraday | &c &c &c | Royal Institution | London | With Compts T. Graham