8 Dr. Kane on the Compounds of Ammonia. 



The sulphate of the black oxide of mercury is, when prepared by double 

 decomposition, anhydrous, and is composed of 



Mercury = 80.80 1 



Oxygen = 3.18 [ 100.0 



Sulphuric acid = 16.02 J 



But, from the extensive limits, within which the quantity of the sulphuric acid 

 removed by the ammonia, is contained, it would, be improper to assert positively 

 by what formula the result should be expressed. I consider that by the action 

 of the ammonia a certain quantity of a per-compound may have been formed, 

 and thus have given rise to the variable nature of the result. The results A 

 and B, however, tend to induce me to look upon the grey compound, when 

 pure, as having the composition \igo.so^-\-2ugo-\-ngtiH^, and bearing the 

 same relation to the ammonia-turpeth, that the powder formed by water of 

 ammonia on calomel, bears to white precipitate. If one might hazard a conjec- 

 ture, the other results would indicate a tendency to a limit in the decomposition, 

 when the half of the sulphuric acid had been removed, and thus there may be a 

 body also grey coloured h^o. SO3 + ug nh^, or rather h^ SO4 -\- Hg nh^, similar 

 to H^ cl -\- ug NHj, as described in the former paper. 



I did not follow up any analysis of the grey powder, because it was evident, 

 from the variable nature of the circumstances affecting its formation, that no result 

 could be obtained, so closely true, as to prove either for or against the question 

 of the function of the ammonia, or indeed the quantity of the latter constituent 

 (never more than three per cent.), that might have been therein contained. It 

 is necessary therefore, on this point, to allow of the temporary guidance of the 

 analogical evidence, which we derive from the more fixed results of the analyses 

 of corresponding compounds. 



IV. OF THE NITRATES OF THE RED OXIDE OF MERCURY. 



We owe to the younger Mitscherlich an examination of the nitrates of mer- 

 cury, which constitutes, up to the present day, all our knowledge regarding 

 them. The singularity of the results to which he arrived, rendered their 

 repetition of importance, and the more so, as the doubts which had been thrown 

 upon the correctness of his analyses of the ammonia-nitrates, by Soubeiran, 



