IV. Some Experiments on Gold. By THOMAS THOMSON, M. D. 

 F. R. S. Lond. & Edin. Professor of Chemistry in the Uni- 

 versity of Glasgow. 



(Read April 16. 1827J 



AN the first volume of my " Attempt to establish the First Prin- 

 " ciples of Chemistry by Experiment" p. 442, I give the analy- 

 sis of the sodium chloride of gold, and find the constituents to 

 be 



2 atoms chlorine, 9 



1 atom gold, - 25 



1 atom common salt, - 7 '5 



8 atoms water, 9 



50-5 



But I state at the same time, my uncertainty whether the 

 gold in the salt was in the state of a chloride or muriate. This 

 uncertainty raising a doubt, whether the peroxide of gold con- 

 tained two or three atoms of oxygen, I thought it highly neces- 

 sary to clear it up. In this paper, I shall state the experiments 

 which I have made with that object in view. 



The whole weight of evidence is in favour of peroxide of 

 gold containing 3 atoms of oxygen. We have the analyses of 

 BERZELIUS repeated at two different times, and at a considerable 

 interval, and, in both, that most skilful and accurate chemist 

 found gold in the peroxide united with three atoms of oxygen. 

 This analysis has been confirmed by M. JAVAL, who informs us, 

 that he obtained the very same results as BERZELIUS had done. 



