Chemical Science. 395 



the cyanate, therefore, contained 58.97 per cent, of potash. 

 In another experiment, 764 of the salt, decomposed by muriatic 

 acid, in a crucible, gave 700 of chloride, corresponding to 57.96 

 per cent, of potash in the salt. 



When the aqueous solution of the cyanate is boiled, it becomes 

 entirely converted into carbonate of potash : 380 of the cyanate, 

 moistened in a platina crucible, dried and heated to redness, and 

 this again repeated, gave 323 carbonate of potash, much ammonia 

 being disengaged. According to this experiment, lOO of the cyan- 

 ate contains 57.95 of potash. 



Cyanate of Silver is insoluble in cold water, slightly soluble in 

 boiling water, but separating in powder as the solution cools. 680 

 of the cyanate, heated until reduced, gave 490 of metal, equal to 

 526 oxide; consequently 100 of cyanate of silver contains 77.353 

 oxide of silver. During the operation no ammonia was perceived, 

 proving the dryness of the salt. 



For the analysis of the cyanic acid, advantage was taken of the 

 property possessed by the cyanates of liberating all their carbon 

 as carbonic acid, when treated with acids in solution in water. 

 36 parts of cyanate of silver were made into a ball, and intro- 

 duced into a glass tube over mercury, with weak muriatic 

 acid ; fifty-three cubic centimetres of carbonic acid gas were in- 

 stantly evolved, equivalent to 2.86 of carbon, which must have 

 been furnished by 8.197 of cyanic acid, that being the quantity 

 contained in the salt of silver used. According to this experiment, 

 100 of cyanic acid contains 34.922 carbon, and 40.83 nitrogen. 

 The experiment repeated with a very pure cyanate of silver, gave 

 for 100 of the acid, 35.315 carbon, and 41.289 nitrogen. 



The quantity of oxygen contained in the cyanic acid is ob- 

 tained, by subtracting from the weight of the cyanate of silver the 

 weight of the products already obtained; and it is then found to 

 be exactly equal to that combined with the silver; so that the 

 cyanic acid is composed of 



100.000 

 from which it would appear that cyanic acid is composed of an 

 atom of cyanogen, and an atom of oxygen ; and, consequently, in 

 cyanates, contains as much oxygen as is contained in the base. 



2 D2 



