Explosions in gas mixtures

Another component favouring explosion in gas mixtures is nitrogen dioxide which may occur in small amounts as a result of incomplete decomposition of the powder. 

Dixon says that in 1880-1 he was startled by the violently explosive manner in which the burning of a mixture of nitric oxide and carbon disulphide vapour, which normally burns quietly, sometimes occurs and he began to measure the velocity of explosion in gas mixtures. In 1881, Berthelot and Mallard and Le Chatelier showed that the velocity of flame in a long tube may be very much greater (1000 to 3500 m./sec.) than the value of a few m. per sec. found by Bunsen (see p. 291). The experiments were continued by Berthelot and P. Vieille and E. Mallard and Le Chatelier. ... 

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