58 TIYrONITRTTER ; PEOPERTIES AXD PRErAPATION BY 



(AgON)o + 4NO,=2AgN03 + 4NO, and, therefore, that the decomposi- 

 tion of silver hyponitrite into silver and nitric oxide does not 

 directly occur. 



It remains to explain the absorption and regeneration of 

 nitric peroxide hy cooling and heathig the gases in contact with 

 the solid residue of the decomposed hyponitrite. The interaction 

 of silver and nitric peroxide in tlie cold, already referred to, 

 explains the disappearance of the nitric peroxide, half of its 

 nitrogen becoming nitrate and half nitric oxide. The regenera- 

 tion of nitric peroxide at such low temperatures as those in tlie 

 neighbourhood of 150° is explained by experiments of mine 

 recorded in a separate note (this vol., p. 11). The silver nitrate 

 and nitric oxide interact to produce nitric peroxide and at first 

 nitrite but ultimately silver itself: — AgNO:5+KO=Ag+2NO.. 



As to the existence of the silver nitrito-hyponitrite, 

 nitrato-hyponitrite, and nitrate-nitrite. 



Silver niirato-niiriie. — I have made new experiments upon 

 the union of silver nitrate with silver nitrite, first examined ])y 

 me in 1871 {J. Ch. Soc, 24, 85). Silver nitrite mixed with a 

 little less than its equivalent of silver nitrate suffers only slight 

 decomposition until it melts along with the nitrate at about 

 130°. The fused salts solidify at about 125° to a translucent, 

 greenish-yellow, crystalline mass, except in the uppermost part, 

 where it is opaque from the presence of ])ubblcs and metallic 

 silver. This upper part removed, the rest can be fused again 

 without suffering further change and even be heated nearly to 

 180° without decomposing. Silver nitrite heated alone shows 

 marked change of colour when the temperature has reached 120°, 

 gives red fumes at about 140°, and very freely decomposes below 



