506 Prof. Kane on (he Action of Ammonia 



and an acid solution of protochloride of tin added. The re- 

 duction of the quicksilver took place readily, and large well- 

 formed globules appeared ; the metal collected and carefully 

 dried, weighed 89*39 grains, or 100 of the powder had given 

 88-18. 



C. — 51*42 of the gray powder were dissolved in dilute 

 aqua regia, and a current of sulphuretted hydrogen in excess 

 passed through the liquor. It was found, that owing to free 

 chlorine, the sulphur precipitated invalidated the result. The 

 whole was therefore mixed with nitric acid, and boiled until 

 the sulphuret of mercury was completely decomposed ; the 

 liquor was then freed from the particles of pure sulphur and 

 evaporated until all free nitric acid and chlorine were com- 

 pletely dissipated. Being then treated by sulphuretted hy- 

 drogen, it yielded a sulphuret, pure and jet black, which col- 

 lected and dried, weighed 52*39 grains, consisting of 



Sulphur 7-19 1 , 2 



Mercury 45-20 J cz ** 



The 51-42 grains therefore contained 45-20 of mercury 

 or 100-00 - - - 87*90. 



In this experiment so much ammonia was lost by the treat- 

 ment with nitric acid, that its quantity could not be deter- 

 mined. 



D. — As in none of these former analyses had the ammonia 

 constituent been determined, the following experiments were 

 made for the purpose of ascertaining its precise quantity : 



1st. 66*43 grains were boiled with an excess of solution of 

 iodide of potassium, and the flask being connected with a bent 

 tube dipping into dilute muriatic acid, the heat was kept up 

 until all the ammonia and about half the water had passed 

 over. The liquor was then evaporated to dryness, and yield- 

 ed a residue of 6*96 grs. of sal-ammoniac, consisting of 

 Muriatic acid . . . 4*73\ 



Ammonia 2-33J 



or 100 of powder gives 3*36 of ammonia. 



The action of potash on the gray powder liberates ammonia 

 likewise ; but it was found so difficult to obtain complete de- 

 composition that the method was abandoned. Another pro- 

 cess tried, consisted in repeatedly distilling strong muriatic 

 acid off the powder, in order to convert it into metallic mer- 

 cury, corrosive sublimate, and sal-ammoniac, and thus obtain 

 a quantitative result; but this method also was found of so im- 

 perfect action, that it could not be well applied. 



Summing up the results of the analyses above recorded, 

 we have for 100 parts of the powder: 



