Some ionic liquids can be distilled under vacuum conditions at temperatures near 300 °C. In the original work by Martyn Earle, et al., the authors wrongly concluded that the vapor was made up of individual, separated ions, but was later proven that the vapors formed consisted of ion pairs. Some ionic liquids (such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate) generate flammable gases on thermal decomposition. Thermal stability and melting point depend on the liquid's components. The thermal stability of ionic liquids is <225 K.