508 Prof. Kane on the Action of Ammonia 



peroxide of mercury is of very great importance, as the com- 

 pound resulting, the ammoniuret of mercury, is one of a very 

 remarkable class of bodies, viz. the fulminating compounds 

 containing ammonia; and in addition, the experiments of 

 Guibourt, the only chemist I believe who has made analyses 

 of it, would appear to demonstrate in it, a relation between 

 the number of atoms of ammonia and oxygen, which must in- 

 fluence the ammoniacal theories to a very great extent. These 

 circumstances made me trace out the properties of this body 

 with more exactness than should have been otherwise re- 

 quired. 



I have not been able to prepare a substance possessing the 

 external characters of the ammoniuret of mercury described 

 by Fourcroy and Thenard. 1 have varied in every manner I 

 could imagine, the method of obtaining it; but, although I 

 got a substance constantly the same in its properties and com- 

 position, it differed much in appearance from that described 

 by the French chemists. They state, that by digesting liquid 

 ammonia on red oxide of mercury during eight or ten days, 

 the oxide gradually covers itself with a yellowish-white powder 

 which generally passes to a very fine white. I have never 

 obtained it of a pure white, but always with a tinge of yellow, 

 possessing an appearance and affording on analysis, results 

 always the same. The constancy of its properties justifies me, 

 I should think, in considering it as pure, notwithstanding its 

 not exactly agreeing with their result. Unfortunately they 

 did not publish any quantitative analysis of their product ; the 

 only one known to me is that in Guibourt's thesis. 



In order to prepare ammoniuret of mercury, I precipitated 

 a solution of sublimate by potash, and the precipitate having 

 been well washed from all excess of alkali, was put into a bottle 

 of water of ammonia and left for some days ; its colour became 

 much lighter, but never completely white. Other portions of 

 recently precipitated peroxide were boiled in water of ammonia 

 for a few minutes, until the colour ceased to undergo any 

 change : the reaction was very much accelerated by heat. 

 These different portions of product had all the same colour, 

 and were indifferently, but without mixture, used in the fol- 

 lowing examination without any difference of properties be- 

 coming observable. 



When this ammoniuret is heated, it gives off much ammonia 

 and azote; a considerable quantity of water collects in the 

 tube, and the matter remaining becomes dark-red, like per- 

 oxide; but if it be allowed to cool, it reassumes its whitish 

 colour, and is evidently still unaltered ammoniuret. The re- 

 action evidently does not consist in a separation of the ammo- 



