the Oxygenated Muriai of Potajh. 29f 



as before, but fucceflively. When the proportion of fulphur was increafed to three fourths 

 of a grain, it produced a very loud report, much the fame as the firft ; and the whole ap- 

 peared to explode at once. Equal parts of fulphur and the fait did not caufe fo ftrong re- 

 ports as when a lefs quantity of fulphur was employed : this mixture exploded fucceflively. 

 The fulphuric and nitrous acids inflamed it. 



Experiment Y .' luiih SulpJiuret of Potajb. One grain of the fait rubbed with tlie fame 

 iveight of this fubfta:ice produced a very loud explofion with flame. With half a grain of 

 the fulphuret I thought the report fully as violent. A little of thefe mixtures melted over 

 the fire had not the effeft of the fulminating powder made with nitre. It only emitted a 

 ilafh without any report, nor was 1 able to produce a fulminating mixture by varying the 

 proportions of the fait, alkali and fulphur. The fulphuric or nitrous acids dropped on 

 this mixture gave a very ftrong bright flame. 



Experiment V\. ivith fulphuret of Mercury. {CinimbarJ) Equal parts of this fubflance 

 and of the fait detonated fucceflively by frittion, a grain of each being ufeJ. A change of 

 proportion appeared to weaken the detonating property of the mixture. The fulphuric 

 acid inflamed this mixture, but not fo rapidly as in the laft experiment. The nitrous acid 

 did not inflame it. 



Experiment VII. -with Sulphuret of Jrfenic. [Orpimeiit.) A grain or two of the fait rubbed 

 with an equal weight of this fubflance produced little more than a flafh ; but a grain of the 

 fait with half a grain of the fulphuret gave a ftrong report, though very little friction was 

 ufcd. Reducing the quantity of fulphuret to a quarter of a grain, the explofions were 

 weak and fuccefllve. A larger quantity of this mixture than is mentioned above makes a 

 report which is very unpleafant, with confiderable flame. I was greatly furprifed, the firft 

 time I made the experiment with two or three grains of the fait and a portion of the ful- 

 phuret, by their exploding in a moft violent manner, though a very flight fridion had been 

 ufed. The fulphuric or nitrous acids gave a very ftrong flame the moment they were 

 dropped upon this mixture. 



Evperitnent VIII. <iuiih Cotton-wool. A fmall quantity of very dry cOtton-wool was rubbed 

 with a little of the fait ; no detonation took place. The wool was afterwards dropped into 

 the fulphuric acid, and took fire immediately ; but the nitrous acid would not inflame it. 



Experiment IX. tvith Loaf-fugar. One grain of this fubftance rubbed with two of the 

 fait gave a number of fucceffive reports. The fulphuric or nitrous acids dropped on thi* 

 mixture inftantly produced a ftrong flame afcending to a confiderable height. 



Experiment X. with fixed and ejfential Oils. A few drops of fpermaceti oil rubbed with a 

 grain or two of the fait produced a number of loud reports. The fulphuric acid inflamed 

 this mixture •, the nitrous acid did not. 



Olive oil, the effential oils of rofemary, juniper, cloves, carraway, anifeed, cinnamon, 

 nutmeg, amber, mint, and eflence of lemon, were rubbed with the fait : all of them de- 

 tonated fucceflively, and fuch of the mixtures as were tried took fire with the fulphuric acid. 

 Experiment XI. ivith Spirit of Turpentine. A few drops of fpirit of turpentine rubbed 

 with a little of the fait detonated in much the fame manner as the fubftances ufed in the 

 laft experiment. The fulphuric acid dropped on this mixture produced a ftrong flame, with 

 a cloud of very black fmoke. 



Experiment XII. with Camphor. A little of this fubftance on being rubbed with a grain 



Q.q 2 9f 



