ON OXIMURIATfC ACID. 191 



I sooD ascertained this in a manner aUog^ether unequivo- Formation of 

 .mi 1 I 1 1 -J !• L • carbonic acid 



cau 1 he concrete salt, condensed on the sides ot the jar pjovetl. 



when the action of the ammonia had ceased, being collected, ^ 



on dropping it into dilute muriatic acid, a sensible cfFer- .^ 



vescence was observed, especially when it had been taken 

 from the upper part of the inverted jar. This latter circum- 

 stance appeared to indicate, that the ammonical gas, when 

 introduced to the elastic fluid remaining after the mutual 

 action of the three gasses, had combined first with tlie muri- 

 atic acid, and afterward more slowly with the carbonic acid 

 that had been formed, so that the product of this latter com- 

 bination had been deposited principally towards the head of 

 the jar; a result which might indeed be expected from the 

 more powerful action of muriatic acid, than of carbonic acid, 

 on ammonia. This afforded a mode of obtaining the two pro- 

 ducts in a great measure separate. On adding the first portion Exp. t» 

 ofammonia,the white vapours were allowed to condense, the 

 rei-idual gas was transferred into another jar, and a fresh 

 portion of ammonia added. The salt obtained from the 

 sides of the first jar was principally muriate of ammonia, 

 that from the second was carbonate, and when dropped on a 

 dilute acid effervesced as strongly as pure carbonate of am- 

 monia did. The production of carbonic acid was esta- 

 blished therefore beyond the possibility of doubt : it farther 

 appears, that the conclusion 1 had drawn from my former 

 experiments was correct, and that there is uo fallacy in the 

 introduction of water after the mutual action of the gasses 

 to examine the product, the result being equally decisive 

 when anip:ionia is employed. 



The residual gas in these experiments was found to be a Residual gas. 

 mixture of hydrogen and carbonic oxide, with a little ni- 



thcre was no precipitation ; and I farther found, that the transpareDCy 

 of a solution of pure carbonate of ammonia is not immediately im- 

 paired by thia teat. This may be ascribed partly perhaps to the action of 

 ammonia counteracting the formation of carbonate of barytas, but 

 principally to the excess of carbonic acid in the carbonate of ammo- 

 nia, which contributes to retain the barytes dissolved. Hence sub- 

 carbonate of ammonia gives a precipitate with muriate of barytes, 

 and iu the above experiment the solution became turbid on the addi- 

 tion of the mnriate only when an excess of ammonia had been added to 

 the elastic fluid formed by the mut«al action of the passes. 



troffen 



