Dr. Kane on the Compounds of A^nmonia. 36 



A. 5.823 grammes of crystals, slightly tarnished, were dissolved in dilute 

 muriatic acid, and treated by sulphuretted hydrogen, until the copper was com- 

 pletely thrown down. The sulphuret of copper was then separated by the filter, 

 and the liquid, with the washings, evaporated in a water-bath. There were 

 obtained 5.211 of sal ammoniac, corresponding to 89.49 per cent., containing 

 28.83 of ammonia. 



B. 4.700 grammes of crystals, dissolved in muriatic acid, and precipitated by 

 caustic potash in excess, gave oxide of copper 1.692, or 36 per cent., containing 

 28.73 per cent, of copper. 



C. 3.594 grammes of crystals were dissolved in an excess of pure nitric acid, 

 and precipitated by nitrate of silver ; the chloride of silver formed, collected, 

 well washed, dried, and fused, weighed 4.672, or 130.5 per cent., containing 

 32.19 chlorine. 



Hence there is the formula cmc^-^- 2NH3+ ho, giving 



110.30 100.00 100.00 



There occurred here a loss of ammonia, which evidently arose from the surface 

 of the crystals having become a little tarnished, and likewise from that which takes 

 place in all evaporations of ammoniacal solutions. Nevertheless, the theoretical 

 and experimental results agree so closely, that there cannot be any doubt of the 

 truth of the formula adopted ; it resembles in every respect that of the ammonia- 

 sulphate, and in accordance with the principles explained in the description of 

 that substance, I consider the chlorine to exist in the crystals as sal ammoniac, 

 and the rational formula to be 



NH3 . HC^-f- CMO.NHg. 



When these crystals are exposed to heat, they melt, and ammonia, with watery " 

 vapour, is disengaged ; I could not succeed in eliminating water without losing 

 ammonia at the same time ; in that respect therefore it resembles the ammonia- 

 sulphate. By a temperature of 300° all the oxygen is separated as water, 



F 2 



