of the Slow Combustion of Ether. G7 



parent colourless solution resulted, which was not at all 

 altered by heat. 



Exp. 7. — A quantity of peracetate of mercury was formed 

 by dissolving peroxide of mercury, prepared from nitric acid, 

 in acetic acid. Into a portion of this solution a small quantity 

 of the acid was dropped, and, upon heating the mixture, an 

 instantaneous precipitation of the bulky white salt obtained in 

 Exp. 6 took place, in such a quantity that the whole mix- 

 ture became solid, and the glass tube in which the experiment 

 was made was upset without spilling a drop. It is hardly 

 necessary to mention, that no such effect was produced by the 

 mixture of acetic acid and ether. 



After these experiments which were often repeated and 

 varied in ways which it is unnecessary to detail, we thought 

 that the distinct and peculiar nature of the acid formed during 

 the slow combustion of ether was sufficiently established, and 

 Mr. Phillips kindly requests me to state that he had no longer 

 a doubt existing in his mind. 



By a curious chance, I had no sooner satisfied others with 

 regard to this subject, than I had reason to entertain doubts 

 myself upon this very point. Being engaged in following up 

 another branch of the subject in my own laboratory, (the object 

 of our joint inquiry being considered accomplished,) I had 

 occasion to prepare some peracetate of mercury. For this 

 purpose I took some peroxide of mercury per se, and put it 

 into acetic acid in a gentle heat. To my great surprise instead 

 of dissolving entirely as the nitrous red oxide had always done, 

 a large quantity of white insoluble salt was formed, exactly 

 resembling that obtained in former experiments by the acid 

 from ether. 



Something of the true explanation of these apparently con- 

 tradictory results soon occurred to me, and I immediately set 

 about the following experiment to elucidate the matter, 



Exp. 8. — Some protoxide of mercury Avas put into acetic 



acid and warmed, a spongy white salt of a silvery micaceous 



appearance was speedily formed, which was nearly insoluble in 



cold water. Some of the same protoxide was treated with the 



F2 



