38 Dr. Kane on the Compounds of Ammonia. 



colour, and differed markedly in their aspect from the ordinary oxychloride. I 

 consequently submitted these specimens to an examination, from which it results, 

 that there may be prepared, by the action of a base on an excess of solution of 

 chloride of copper, two oxychlorides ; that generally formed being the common 

 Brunswick green, with the formula cmc^-|-3cmo + 4ho, but that when a still 

 smaller quantity of base is employed a different substance is produced. 



This new oxychloride resembles remarkably in its aspect that last noticed 

 and the sub-sulphate, but can be at once distinguished from Brunswick green by 

 its pale colour ; heated it gives out water, and becomes first brown, and leaves 

 finally a black powder. When this powder is moistened it slakes, evolving great 

 heat, and becoming of a very brilliant green colour, brighter than that of Brunswick 

 green. By heat the water reabsorbed may be again expelled, and so repeatedly, 

 without total decomposition taking place. 



The analysis of this oxychloride was conducted in the following manner : 



A. 12.390 grammes, dried over the spirit-lamp, gave a black powder, weigh- 

 ing 9.725, or 78.49 per cent. These 9-725 were moistened with water, and 

 allowed to assume throughout the rich green colour ; the excess of water, which 

 was very slight, was removed by a temperature of 100° F., when the green pow- 

 der was found to weigh 11.670, having absorbed 16.78 per cent, of water. 



B. 5. 155 grammes ofthe green powder, thusformed, were keptata temperature 

 of 280°, until it ceased to give out watery vapour ; it had become chocolate 

 brown, and weighed 4.584. It had lost therefore 11.08 per cent, ofthe water 

 which it contained. 



C. 6.185 grammes of the same green powder, dried at 500° F., gave 5.144 

 of black powder, or 83.17 per cent. ; hence it had lost 16.83 water. 



D. The 4.584 of B was dissolved in dilute nitric acid, and precipitated by 

 nitrate of silver, the chloride was collected, washed, and dried, it then weighed 

 4.099, corresponding to 79-51 per cent., and containing 20.61 of chlorine in the 

 bright green condition. 



E. The 5.144 of C was dissolved in dilute muriatic acid, and treated with 

 boiling solution of potash, the oxide of copper which separated was well washed, 

 and collected on a filter, and subsequently ignited. There was obtained 4.112, 

 corresponding to 79-93 per cent., and containing 63.78 of copper. 



