ilEPATIC MERCURt. 229 



pears of a clear liver-coloured brown, whence it has its Analysis of the 

 «ame. hepatic ere of 



Mercury, 



A. 1000 grains of this ore, distilled with half its weight 



of iron filings, afforded 818 grains of pure mercury, the 

 residue consisted ofsulphurct of iron mixed with a black 

 powder, soiling the fingers like soot. 



B. a. 100 grains reduced to fine powder were heated in 

 500 grains of muriatic acid to ebullition. 



Sulphurated hidrogen gas was disengaged. The mine- 

 ral was decomposed by adding, a little at a timcj 100 

 grains of nitric acid ; a black residue of ten grains re- 

 mained. This residue was burned in a porcelain capsule 

 very carefully, in order that the sulphur oftly might be 

 burned. There remained three grains of a light coaly 

 powder, which became ignited and burned by a stronger 

 heat, leaving one grain of reddish ashes. 



b. The solution was precipitated by the muriate of ba- 

 rytes. The sulphate of barytes, which was obtained after 

 having been made red hot, weighed 46,5 grains; so that 

 there were 6,5 grains of sulphur converted into sulphuric 

 acid by the action of the nitric acid. Estimating the 

 quantity of sulphur contained in the sulphurated hidro- " 

 genous gas at 0,25 grains, we have 13,75 parts of sulphur 

 in 100 of the mineral. 



Ci a. 1000 grains of hepatic mercury in powder were 

 put into a retort adapted to the pneumatic apparatus ; the 

 heat was gradually raised till the residue became red hot. 

 After the first heat had driven out the atmospheric air, 

 sulphurated hidrogen gas issued forth, which burned with 

 a blue flame ; its volume was 24 cubic inches, without 

 reckoning that which had been absorbed by the water 

 put into the intermediate receiver, which was strongly 

 impregnated with it. 



b. A few globules of mercury were collected in the 

 receiver. In the neck of the retort was a mixture of - 

 Ethiops mineral of a greasy looking humidity, some 

 small metallic globules, and a few small needles of cinna- 

 bar. The mercury which was mechanically extracted 

 from this mixture weighed 3,17 grains. The posterior 

 part of the neck of the retort was alone Covered with a , ', 



Vol. XV Nov. 1806. Hh solid 



