Dr. Kane on the Compounds of Ammonia. 31 



are formed sulphate of ammonia, the soluble ammoniacal sulphate of copper, and 

 a bluish green basic sulphate not containing ammonia. In order to understand 

 the reaction it was necessary to analyze this latter : 



A. 3.710 grammes gave, dried, a brown powder 3.106, corresponding to 

 16.28 water per cent. ; this brown powder, dissolved in muriatic acid, and pre- 

 cipitated by chloride of barium, gave sulphate of barytes 1.766 grammes, corres- 

 ponding to 16.36 of sulphuric acid per cent. 



These proportions approximating to those of the common basic sulphate, 

 another analysis was made with more complete accuracy : 



B. 5.040 grammes of another specimen gave, dried, a brown powder 4.275, 

 which, dissolved in muriatic acid, and precipitated by chloride of barium, gave 

 2.678 of sulphate of barytes ; hence the composition 



234.56 100.00 



Thus the basic sulphate resulting from this reaction is the ordinary one, and 

 the analyses given confirm the formula SO34- 4 0^0 + 4 ho, which had been in 

 some degree doubtful. The decomposition can be thus explained, the water 

 being omitted for the sake of simplicity : 



3(303. NH3) = 3nh3-|- 3SO3 



S03-J-CMO-J-2NH3 = 2NH3-I- CMC-}- SO3 



SO3-I-4CMO = 4CMO+ SO3 



5(nh3.cmo) SO3 5nh3+5cwo-|-5so3 



When this salt is heated it does not lose water until the temperature rises to 

 above 300°, but then it loses all, and the brown powder, if exposed to the air, re- 

 absorbs water slowly ; if moistened, it combines with the water rapidly, evolving 

 heat, and regains its original proportion, and also its proper colour. 



