414 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



'b 



Even diluted acids readily dissolve this salt, decomposing it and 

 evolving sulphurous acid. The solution in hydrochloric acid yields 

 crystals of chloride of sodium by evaporation, and by the addition 

 of ammonia a green crystalline precipitate of ammonio-chloride of 

 platina. The solution in sulphuric acid yields, after the requisite 

 evaporation, crystals of sulphate of soda, and assumes the deep colour 

 well known to be owing to the protosulphate of platina. At a cer- 

 tain degree of concentration, metallic platina separates, a property 

 which is well known to belong also to the protosulphate of platina 

 prepared by direct combination. 



The solution in nitric acid when evaparated by heat has a deep 

 reddish-brown colour ; if to this hydrochlorate of ammonia be added 

 no precipitate is formed, but if the solution be evaporated with the 

 hydrochlorate of ammonia almost to dryness, and water be added to 

 the residue, there remains a great quantity of ammonio-chloride of 

 platina, which does not dissolve. It appears that the reddish-brown 

 colour is owing to the formation of sulphate of platina, a salt, which, 

 as observed by Mr. E. Davy, is not decomposed by hydrochlorate of 

 ammonia, unless they be evaporated together to dryness. 



The double salt in question dissolves readily in an aqueous solu- 

 tion of cyanide of potassium, and by evaporating the solution, acicu- 

 lar crystals of cyanide of potassium and platina separate. If this 

 salt be exposed to a temperature of 356° to 392° Fahr., it loses its 

 water completely ; ■ and when heated to 464° Fahr. it undergoes no 

 further alteration ; but if the temperature be raised still higher, it 

 begins to suffer slight decomposition, its colour becoming deeper. 

 It requires, however, a continued red heat for its complete decompo- 

 sition, and there then remains a mixture of sulphate and sulphite 

 of/soda with metallic platina. The formula of this anhydrous salt is 

 3 NaO, S0 2 4-Pt O, SO, and that of the hydrated salt 2 (3 Na O, 

 S0 2 +Pt0 2 ) + 3H 2 0*.-/W. 



COMPOSITION OF CONIA. 



According to M. V. Ortigosa, conia when completely anhydrous 

 consists of 



32 equiv. of Hydrogen 199*67 12*55 



16 ... Carbon 1213-60 76'31 



2 ... Azote 177-04 11-14 



Equivalents 159031 100- 



Pure conia distils without any residue, but if it contains water, a 

 resinous matter is left; its boiling-point is 413° Fahr. 



Conia is a powerful base ; like ammonia it gives a precipitate with 

 the proto- salts of tin and of mercury, and with the persalts of iron 

 it appears even to expel ammonia from its compounds. It reduces 

 the salts of silver, gives with sulphate of copper a precipitate slightly 

 soluble in water, and very soluble in alcohol and aether. 



The precipitate obtained by mixing a solution of bichloride of mer- 

 * M. Liebig had previously obtained a double sulphite of ammonia and 



Krotoxide of platina composed according to the formula 2 S O 3 , PtO, 

 f 2 H 6 .— Chitnie Organiqtte de Liebig. Paris, 1840, p. 102. 



