Carbonic Acid and Ammonia. ^&f 



The bicarbonate exposed to the air, seems to undergo the 

 same decomposition as when it is confined under ordinary cir- 

 cumstances ; and in time it entirely disappears, and the more 

 rapidly, the greater the humidity of the air. If a strong solu- 

 tion is exppsed, the decomposition is very rapid ; it presently 

 emits an ammoniacal odour, which it continues to give out till all 

 the saline matter is dissipated, and only water remains. The 

 method of obtaining the bicarbonate by the exposure of the 

 sesquicarbonate to the atmosphere, may appear incongruous 

 with this statement ; but I do not consider it so in reality, at is 

 might not be difficult to show, were the subject sufficiently in- 

 teresting to entitle it to minute discussion. 



The other methods mentioned, of procuring the bicarbonate, 

 might be adduced in favour of the idea, that it can only exist 

 in the solid state, particularly its production in a strong solu- 

 tion of the sesquicarbonate in cooling, and the more especially, 

 as it takes place, even if part of the carbonic acid gas is al- 

 lowed to escape from the heated solution, or if aqua ammonia3 

 is added to the solution. 



The bicarbonate, I believe, is perfectly insoluble in alcohol, 

 and its production from the sesquicarbonate, by the action of 

 alcohol, may be partly owing to this circumstance. When kept 

 in alcohol, it undergoes change as in air, carbonic acid gas is 

 disengaged, and a solution of carbonate of ammonia is generated. 



4. On the effect of Heat on the solid Sesquicarbonate^ and Carbonate 

 of Ammonia. 



It was in an experiment on subjecting the sesquicarbonate 

 of ammonia to heat, as already observed, that my brother, in 

 1799, inferred that he had obtained a new combination of car- 

 bonic acid and ammonia, characterized by its acrid ammonia- 

 cal odour and deliquescence in the atmosphere ; and containing, 

 as he believed, a larger portion of ammonia than any of the 

 then known compounds. 



As far as mere observation is concerned, the results I have 

 obtained in repeating the experiment are in perfect accordance 

 with his. The products of the distillation of the sesquicar- 

 bonate appear in the following order : — First, carbonic acid gas ; 

 next, the salt in question, which, if applied, is considerable, and 



