franklin: mercury ammonia compounds 291 



the divalent mercury atom; as a compound of the infusible white 

 precipitate and ammonium chloride as represented by the formula 

 NH 2 HgCl.NH 4 Cl; and especially in recent years in accordance 

 with the widely accepted Rammelsberg-Pesci theory as a double 

 salt of dimercuriammonium chloride and ammonium chloride as 

 represented by the formula NHg 2 Cl . 3NH 4 CL 



Now there are no known experimental facts which require the 

 formulation of the fusible white precipitate in accordance with 

 any of the mercuriammonium theories and since every thing 

 known of the behavior of the fusible white precipitate indubitably 

 places it in the class of ammonated salts, it follows that the for- 

 mula given it by Kane must be accepted. 



The infusible white precipitate. In accordance with the pre- 

 vailing ammonium theories this compound is assumed to be either 

 ammonium chloride in which one-half of the hydrogen is replaced 

 by mercury as represented by the formula Hg:NH 2 Cl, or as a 

 double salt of dimercuriammonium chloride and ammonium chlo- 

 ride of the formula Hg 2 NCl.NH 4 Cl. The writer has shown that 

 this compound results from the ammonolysis of normal mercuric 

 chloride either in liquid ammonia solution or in water solution and 

 that to it must accordingly be ascribed the formula NH 2 -Hg-Cl, 

 which represents it as an ammonobasic salt. 



Millon's base. This substance has been assigned a bewilder- 

 ing number of formulas depending upon the view to be expressed 

 concerning its empirical composition, for even this is uncertain, 

 and its constitution. The . prevalent views are perhaps best 

 expressed by the formula Hg 2 NOH . nH 2 0, which represents it as 

 dimercuriammonium hydroxide with more or less water of hydra- 

 tion. The writer has shown that the compound is a mixed aquo 

 ammono base to which the formula HO-Hg-NH-Hg-OH or any 

 one of a number of other formulas representing it as a compound, 

 basic at the same time to both water and ammonia, may be given. 



The chloride and iodide of Milton's base. When the fusible 

 white precipitate is thoroughly washed with water, or when 

 Millon's base is treated with a limited quantity of dilute hydro- 

 chloric acid, a compound is formed which was formerly called the 

 chloride of Millon's base but which more recently has come to be 



