A known mass of an organic compound is heated with fuming nitric acid in the presence of silver nitrate contained in a hard glass tube known as carius tube, in a furnace. Carbon and hydrogen present in the compound are oxidised to carbon dioxide and water.
An established amount of an organic material is subjected to heating with fuming nitric acid while silver nitrate, stored in a hard glass vessel known as a carious tube, is present within a furnace. The carbon and hydrogen elements in the substance undergo oxidation to form carbon dioxide and water.