34 Dr. Kane on the Compounds of Ammonia. 



Second basic salt, dry = (cmo . cuo) sOg-f- 2cmo 



Do. do. hydrated = (cmo . cmo) sOg-f- 2cmo-(-4ho 



Third basic salt, dry = (cMo . cwo) SO3 -\- 2cuo -\- 4 CMO 



Do. do. hydrated = (cmo . CMo) SO3-}- 2cmo-4-4cwo-|-6ho-j-6ho 



III. OF THE AMMONIACAL CHLORIDE OF COPPER, AND OF THE COMPOUNDS 



DERIVED FROM IT. 



When water of ammonia is added to a solution of chloride of copper, the 

 precipitate which is at first formed redissolves by an excess, and a purple liquid 

 is produced. If this be evaporated there is deposited a bluish flocculent precipi- 

 tate, and the liquid loses its fine purple colour, and becomes bluish green. If in 

 this condition the solution be set aside to crystallize, the double chloride of cop- 

 per and ammonium is deposited, which Henry and Cap* have mistaken for the 

 ammonia-chloride, and they have consequently assigned to the latter body a con- 

 stitution belonging to one of a totally different nature, and which had resulted 

 from its decomposition. 



In order to obtain the ammonia-chloride pure and crystallized, a solution of 

 chloride of copper must be taken, nearly saturated when hot, and a stream of 

 ammoniacal gas passed through it, until the precipitate which first appears has 

 been totally redlssolved : the mass is kept almost boiling by the heat evolved in 

 the condensation of the ammoniacal gas, and when set aside to cool, the ammonia 

 chloride is deposited in small, but well-marked, octohedrons, or square prisms 

 with pyramidal summits, of a deep blue colour. These crystals must be dried 

 with great care between folds of filtering paper, without the aid of heat, and in a 

 room free from any acid fumes ; even with the greatest caution it is difficult to 

 prevent the outer portion of the mass from acquiring a green tinge, arising from 

 loss of ammonia, which will affect in a corresponding degree the analytical 

 results. 



Although the existence of this body had been generally admitted by chemists, 

 yet no analysis of it had appeai'ed until that by Henry and Cap ; and as it is 

 necessary to disprove their erroneous statement, I will detail those which I 

 performed. 



* Journal de Pharmacie, December, 1837. 



