Carbonic Acid and Ammonia. 29 
Properties of the subcarbonate of ammonia. 
1. This salt is very volatile even in the or- 
dinary temperature of winter; but it seems 
that the alkaline part is more so than the acid ; 
it has apungent smell, like pure ammonia, but 
not quite.so strong. 2. It is soluble in water 
so as to give a specific gravity of l.lina 
temperature of 50°, the solution contains 
about 27 per cent. of the salt, or about 12° 
acid; 7 ammonia and 8 or 9 water. It is con- 
sequently about twice as soluble as the carbo- 
nate. Ittastesstrongly alkaline. A solution 
of it absorbs carbonic acid; plentifully.. It 
gives a'copious precipitate with salts of lime, 
The solution:‘may be kept ‘a longtime in a 
phial without change in the proportion of its 
elements : it. may, be héated.to ebullition, with- 
out much loss;or decomposition ; but by-cor- 
tinued ebullition, it is distilled and partially 
decomposed. _ The proportion of its elements 
ina saline state as procured above, is 1 atom 
of acid, 2.0f ammonia and 2 of water; or) | 
aT 19.4, acid, by weight =.,41 \acid> , 
12. ammonia (25+am., 4, 
16s water ‘34—water, per cent. 
100 
The test snbcarbonate solution, containing 
6ammoniaand 9.7 acid per cent. is of the sp. 
gr. 1.086. That of the carbonate, containing 
1.5 ammonia and 4.85 acid per cent. is of the 
