+ 
150 Examination of the native Cinnahars of Japan, &'o. 
Brought over 990°50 
Oxide of iron - - 9s 
Copper - 2 - ERT ey: 
Water, which served for the formation of 
the sulphuretted hydrogen gas, and other 
loss - =, eK eS 7°30 
1000- 
Those who are of opmion, with Messrs. Kirwan and Sage, 
that the mercury in this cinnabar is only partly combined 
with the sulphur, will see by this analysis that the two sub- 
stances are in round numbers, as 1 and 6; and if there was 
any mercury not combined, the nitric acid would attack it, 
The idea entertained that this ore contained oxidated mer- 
cury besides cinnabar, may have arisen from the appearance 
of part of the mercury when distilling. But it arises entirely 
from the charcoal, which decomposes a part of the cinnabar, 
whether it takes from it its necessary quantity of oxygen, or 
forms at a high temperature carburetted sulphur. A distil- 
lation of artificial cinnabar with lamp-black absolutely pre- 
sents the same phznomiena. 
Whether the mercury in the cinnabar is entirely exempt 
from oxygen, is a problem which is not yet resolved. 
There is some appearance that the mereury exists in it in 
so very low a degree of oxidation, that it has hitherto escaped 
observation. Jn the examination of this subject it must not 
be lost sight of, that the mercury in cinnabar (analogous 
with some other metals oxidated at the minimum) resists the 
nitric acid; that in the making of cinnabar the passage of 
the ethiops to. the state of cinnabar is always accompanied 
by an inflammation, and each inflammation seems to be an 
oxidation. 
XXVI, Upon 
eee ee ee ee 
