On a nev) fulminating Mtrcury. ^| 



It weigJied, when waflied and dry, 48,5 grains. Carbonate of pot-afh feparated the lime, 

 and formed oxalate of pot-afli, capable of precipitating lime-water, and muriate of lime ; 

 although it had been depurated from cxcefs of alkali, and from carbonic acid, by a previous 

 addition of acetous acid. That the mercury of the oxalate in the 84 grains, had united to 

 the nitric acid of the nitrate of lime, was proved by dropping muriatic acid into the liquor 

 from which the fubftance demonftrated to be oxalate of lime had been feparated ; for a co" 

 pious precipitation of calomel inftantly enfued. 



The fulphuric liquor, decanted from the oxalate of mercury, was now added to that 

 with which it was edulcorated, and the whole faturated with carbonate of pot-afli. As 

 efFervefcence ceafed, a cloudinefs and precipitation followed ; and the precipitate, being 

 collected, waflied, and dried, weighed 3,4 grains : it appeared to be a carbonate of mer- 

 cury. Upon evaporating a portion of the faturated fulphuric liquor, I found nothing but 

 fulphatc of pot-afli ; nor had it any metallic tafte. There then remains, without allowing 

 for the weight of the carbonic acid united to the 3,4 grains, a deficit from the 100 grains 

 of mercurial powder, of 1 2,6 grains, which I afcribc to the gas feparated by the afllon of 

 the fulphuric acid. To afcertain the quantity, and examine the nature, of the gas fo fe- 

 parated, I introduced into a very fmall tubulated retort, 50 grains of the mercurial pow- 

 der, and poured upon it 3 drams, by meafure, of fulphuric acid, diluted with an equal 

 quantity of water, and extricated the gas with the afTiftance of a gentle heat. I firft re- 

 ceived it over quickfilver, the furface of which, during the operation, partially covered 

 itfelf with a little black powder *. 



The gas, by different trials, amounted from 28 to 31 cubical ioches; it at firfl: appeared 

 to be nothing but carbonic acid, as it precipitates barytes water, and extinguiflied a taper, 

 without being itfelf inflamed, or becoming red. But, upon letting up to it liquid cauflic 

 ammoniac, there was a refidue of from 5 to 7 inches of a peculiar inflammable gas, which 

 burnt with a greenifli blue flame. When I made ufe of the water-tub, I obtained, from 

 the fame materials, from 25 to 27 inches only of gas, although the average quantity of 

 the peculiar inflammable gas was likewife from 5 to 7 Inches ; therefore, the difference of 

 the aggregate product, over the two fluids, muft have arifen from the abforptlon, by the 

 water, of a part of the carbonic acid in its nafcent ftate. The variation of the quantity of 

 the inflammable gas, when powder from the fame parcel is ufed, feems to depend upon the 

 acid being a little more or lefs dilute. 



With refpeft to the nature of the peculiar Inflammable gas, It Is plain to me, from the 

 reafons I (hall immediately adduce, that is is no other than the gas (in a pure ftate) into 

 which the nitrous etherized gas can be refolved, by treatment with dilute fulphuric acid. 



The Dutch chemifts have (hewn f , that the nitrous etherized gas can be reColved into 

 nitrous gas, by expofure to concentrate fulphuric acid, and that, by ufing a dilute Inftead 



' I cannot account for thu appearance. 



+ Journal dt Phyjiqut, p. 150, October, 1794.. 



Dd2 •£ 



