3751 ' ®^ SILVER. 



and it is the lonS; of acid experienced by this portion, that 

 Analogous occasions it to be precipitated. These effects are com^ 

 phenomena pletely analogous to those of the nitrat of mercury at a, 

 wi ercury. j^^g-^j-^^^j^^ ^f oxidation M'hen thrown into water. If it 

 do not divide into two parts, and if one do not borrow 

 acid from the other, it does not dissolve : but in the case 

 before us, as well as in, that of mercury, a little acid sets 

 the yellow precipitates alioat, it increases their saline 

 state, and in consequence restores their solubility. .,, ,, x^: 

 Mode of ob-' We may succeed in crystalli^sing it, however, by suc- 

 tainingcrys- cessively suspending and resuming the distjllation, till by 

 repeated trials we have brought the solution to the pro- 

 per point. But I have not yet been able to obtain crys- 

 tals sufficiently separate, and out of the retort, to be able 

 to examine them easily. 



Properties of this Nitrat. 

 Attractsoxigen Its solution kept in the air, and defended from dust, 

 from the air, loses its colour, and in a few days affords large square 



luminae of the common nitrat, or that at a maximum. 



and from nitric I* i^ amusing to observe the readiness with which a fewr 



acid, drops of nitric acid, poured into this solution, give rise 



to large scales of nitrat. The fluid changes from white 



to yellow, blackens more with ammonia, and at lengtlb 



becomes wholly nitrat at a maximum. If the acid be: 



mixed with a more dilute solution, and heated, nitrous 



gas is evolved, and confirms the change indicated by 



theory. 



Muriat of sll- Muriq^tic acid poured into the solution of minimum 



veF only in one nitrat affords a muriat, the base of which rises to th© 



'^^^^* maximum in the very process. There is no muriat at a 



minimum therefore ; or at least 1 have not been able to. 



form one. The following are some of its most striking 



habitudes with reagents. 



_ AVith water of litmus the solution of common nitrat oj: 



Its effects on /. , • 



litmus, silver produces no effect; that of the mmimum nitr^li 



precipitates a blue lake. 

 .. , .. ^ With cochineal the wfmw7«w« nitrat produces a sqarlet 



colour ; the minimum^ a deep violet lake, 

 indigo. With solution of iiidigo in sulphuric acid the maximum 



occasions 



