On ^ new fulminaling Mercury, • wet 



iny convenient glafs veflel, a moderate heat Is to be applied until an efFervefcence is excited. 

 A white fume then begins to undulate on the furfacc of the liquor ; and the powder will be 

 gradually precipitated, upon the ceffation of a£lion and re-a£tion. The precipitate is to be 

 immediately colleded on a filter, well wafhcd with diftilled water, and carefully dried in a 

 heat not much exceeding that of a water bath. The immediate edulcoration of the powder 

 is material, becaufe it is liable to the re-aftion of the nitric acid } and, whilft: any of that 

 acid adheres to it, it is very fubje(Sl to lhe influence of light. Let it alfo be cautioufly re- 

 membered, that the mercurial folution is to be poured upon the alcohol. 



I have recommended quickfilver to be ufed in preference to an oxide, becaufe it feems to 

 anfwer equally, and is lefs expenfive; otherwife, not only the pure red oxide, but the red 

 nitrous oxide, and turpeth, may be fubltituted ; neither does it feem eflential to attend to 

 the precife fpecific gravity of the acid, or the alcohol. The reflified fpirit of wine and the 

 nitrous acid of commerce, never failed, with me, to produce a fulminating mercury. It is 

 indeed true, that the powder prepared without attention, is produced in different quantities, 

 varies in colour, and probably in ftrength. From analogy, I am difpofed to think the 

 whiteft is the ftrongeft j for it is well known, xhat black precipitates of mercury approach 

 the neareft to the metallic ftate. The variation in quantity is remarkable} the fmallefl 

 quantity I ever obtained from lOO grains of quickfilver being 120 grains, and the larged 

 132 grains. Much depends on very minute circumftances. The greateft produ£i feems 

 to be obtained, when a veUel is ufed which condenfes and caufes mod ether to return into 

 the mother liquor; befides which, care is to be had in applying the requifite heat, that a 

 fpeedy, and not a violent adlion be effefted. 100 grains of an oxide are not fo produdtivc 

 as 100 grains of quickfilver. 



As to the colour, it feems to incline to black, when the adion of the acid on the alcohol 

 Is moft violent, and vice verfd. 



SECTION X. 



I need not obferve, that the gafes which were generated during the combuftion of the 

 powder in the glafs globe, were neceflarlly mixed with atmofpheric air ; the facility with 

 which the electric fluid pafles through a vacuum, made fuch a mixture unavoidable. 



The cubical inch of gas received over water was not readily abforbed by it : and, as it 

 foon extinguiflied a taper, without becoming red, or being itfelf inflamed, barytes water 

 was let up to the three cubical inches received over mercury, when a carbonate of barytes 

 was immediately precipitated. 



The refidue of feveral explofions, after the carbonic acid had been feparated, was found, 

 by the teft of nitrous gas, to contain nitrogen or azotic gas ; which does not proceed from 

 any decompofition of atmofpheric air, becaufe the powder may be made to explode under 

 the exhaufted receiver of an air-pump. It is therefore manifeft, that the gafes generated 

 during the combuftion of the fulminating mercury, confift of carbonic acid and nitrogen 

 gafes. 



Vol. IV.—August 1800. D d SECTION 



