Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 233 



having commenced the action propagates it in the manner of a fer- 

 ment. Not only is such an action of hyponitrous acid with regard 

 to nitric acid unnecessary, but it would be contrary to the ccconomy 

 of nature, which rtever proceeds so indirectly. Besides, it is too 

 evident that nitric acid totally free from hyponitric acid may com- 

 mence action on metals, either when cold or at a higher temperature, 

 and if it begins, it may a fortiori continue it. 



In concluding, M. Gay-Lussac observes, that he is far from de- 

 nying that the researches of M. Millon on the action of nitric acid 

 on metals contain real merit ; but still he is of opinion that the greater 

 number of the singular facts which he has observed may be readily 

 explained without including anything anomalous. — Ann. de Ch. et de 

 Phys., Avril 1843. 



ON THE ACTION OF CHLORIDES ON PROTOCHLORIDE OF MER- 

 CURY. BY MONS. A. LARVEgUE. 



On the 18th of February, 45 grains of protochloride of mercury, 90 

 grains of chloride of sodium, and 1875 grains of distilled water were 

 put together into a bottle. The mixture was frequently shaken to 

 dissolve the common salt, and the reaction was continued until the 

 next day : the protochloride of mercury did not appear to be acted upon 

 in any appreciable degree, the supernatant liquid was perfectly limpid 

 and not at all discoloured by hydrosulphuric acid, nor did it produce 

 any change on the 21st ; nor was it till the 25th, when the liquor 

 was again tested, that it was turned brown by the hydrosulphuric 

 acid ; the whole of the liquid was then filtered, and afterwards re- 

 peatedly shaken with sulphuric aether ; the aether was then separated 

 and evaporated by a water-bath in a capsule, and the residue treated 

 with a few drops of water and tried with iodide of potassium, proto- 

 chloride of tin and hydrosulphuric acid, and these did not indicate 

 any trace of bichloride of mercury. 



Nevertheless the solution of common salt contained mercury in so- 

 lution, since it was coloured by hydrosulphuric acid ; this colour was 

 evidently owing to protochloride of mercury, dissolved by the alka- 

 line chloride, since if bichloride of mercury had been formed it would 

 have been readily removed by the aether. 



This experiment was repeated with the chlorides of barium, cal- 

 cium, magnesium, potassium, &c. with perfectly similar results ; the 

 presence of bichloride of mercury could not in any case be detected 

 by means of aether. 



A mixture of 45 grains of protochloride of mercury, 1 50 of com- 

 mon salt, and 750 grains of water, was made on the 26th of March, 

 and the next day the solution was rendered brown by hydrosulphuric 

 acid, but no bichloride of mercury was afterwards obtained by the 

 action of aether on the liquid. 



The crystallized chlorides of barium, calcium and magnesium, 

 gave much less decisive results, for in the greater number of cases 

 no effect was produced by directly operating on the liquor, even when 

 45 grains of protochloride, 90 grains of the chloride, and 1875 grains 

 of water were employed. 



