Chemical Experiments on Mercury. 63 



of crystallization, were evaporated to dryness, and present- 

 ed to us what we sought for, a hvperoxygenatt;d niuriate of 

 mercury, possessing the following properties : 



1. It Is highly soluble and deliquescent. 



2. Much more soluble in alcohol than the ordinary oxy- 

 genated muriate. 



3. It decrepitates with concentrated sulphuric acid, 

 assumes a yellow colour, and disengages oxygenated muri- 

 atic acid gas. 



4. The essential property, which no otlier salt besides 

 this is known to possess, is, that being mixed with the sul- 

 phuret of antimouv, it inflames s])ontaneously at the ordi- 

 nary temperature, some instants after the mixture is made. 

 The residuum of this combustion, besides the sulphuric or 

 sulphurous acids which are disengaged, consis-ts of oxygen- 

 ated muriate of mercury (corrosive sublimate) and muriate 

 of antimony. It appears, therefore, that, in this case, the 

 superabundant oxygen of the hyperoxygenated muriate 

 burns a portion of the sulphur, and produces sulphuric acid, 

 andaportionalsoof the antimony, which then combines with 

 some of the muriatic acid froai the mercury. This salt, how- 

 ever, possibly on account of its extreme deliquescence, does 

 not decrepitate upon ignited coals, nor does it make any 

 explosion when struck by a hammer. 



The oxide of mercury conibinecf in this salt is of the 

 same nature with that which is combined with oxygenated- 

 muriate. The alkalies likewise precipitate it in a yellow 

 oxide. 



Conclusion fro»? the last Eocperiments. 



Oxygenated muriatic acid produces, therefore, with red 

 rtxide of mercury, principally by the aid of heat, different 

 kinds of salts. 



1. Muriate of mercury at the maximum, with a great 

 excess of oxide, resembling lurbith mineral as to its insolu- 

 bility ill water, but reducible by sublimation into oxv^en- 

 ated muriate of mercurv, and into red oxide. 



2. Simple muriate of mercury. This salt accompanies: 

 in small quantitv the preceding salt. 



3. Oxygenated muiiate of mercury, which crystallizes 

 by the evaporation of the liquor. 



4. HyperoxygL'iKited muriate of mercury- This salt 

 is exiremely soluble, and not cryslalli/able. 



Suc^h are the remarks wl'.ich we"had to offer respecting 

 ■riie action of phospliorous acid, and oxvgenated muriatic 

 acid, upon the mercurial saiti and oxides. Justic* requires 



that. 



