44 Dr. Kane on the Compounds of Ammonia. 



ammonia which is evolved arising probably from a partial expulsion of hnh^ by 

 CMNH^. The salt resists decomposition almost completely, until the nitrate of 

 ammonium melts, and commences to be decomposed, when the sudden burning 

 of the amidogene and copper, in the oxygen of the nitrous oxide formed, gives 

 rise to the explosive reaction which distinguishes this body. 



In order to place in a still clearer point of view the peculiar nature of this 

 body, I shall refer briefly to some observations which I have made on the 

 ammonia-nitrate of silver discovered by George Mitscherlich. On analyzing it 

 he obtained the formula nOj-I- A^o + 2NH3, and I have verified his result, 

 having obtained from it 52.46 of silver, whilst his formula indicates 52.83. 

 This formula is evidently quite similar to that given by the ammonia-nitrate of 

 copper ; and here also the action of the ammonia consists in the separation of 

 the oxide of silver in the first stage and its solution afterwards, when the ammo- 

 nia has been added in excess. Giving to the formula, therefore, its true rational 

 construction, it becomes 



and the propriety of this view is supported by a very curious reaction of this 

 body, which George Mitscherlich does not appear to have observed. 



When heated this salt fuses very readily, and gives out a mixture of azote 

 and ammonia, whilst silver is separated in the metallic form, and by rolling about 

 the fused mass in the tube, a mirror surface is produced, as beautiful as that ob- 

 tained by nitrate of silver with ammonia-aldehyd. When the tube cools, the 

 melted mass solidifies, and is found to be nitrate of ammonia. This I consider 

 to be a convincing proof of the existence of an amidide of silver in this salt ; its 

 easy reduction, the simultaneous liberation of the elements of amidogene, and the 

 nitrate of ammonium being set free, unaltered, if the heat be not raised too high, 

 render the peculiar nature of this body too remarkable to be mistaken. Now in 

 the analogous copper compound, the amidide of copper is not so easily decom- 

 posed, its elements remain united until the nitrate of ammonium begins to yield, 

 and then a rapid combustion, alike of copper and amidogene, takes place in the 

 oxygen of the nitrous oxide formed. 



Although the ammonia-copper element of the ammonia-sulphate of copper 

 cannot be freed from water, yet in the silver salts, the ammonia-sulphate, and its 

 congeners, which, in the hands of Eilard Mitscherlich, have become one of the 



