76 Extract from the third Volume of 



INI. Dcyeux observed, is pale green ; and I am inclined to 

 ■believe that it is chiefly a weak solution of gallate of lime. 

 The ashes of galls, deprived of soluble matter, furnish a 

 very considerable quantity of calcareous earth. And the 

 property which M. Deyeux discovered in the liquor of the 

 last hxiviations, of becoming red by the action of acids, and 

 of regaining the green colour by means of alkalis, I have 

 observed, more or less, in all the soluble compounds con- 

 taining gallic acid and the alkaline earths. 

 [To be continued.] 



IX. Extract from the third Volume of the Analyses of 



M. Klaproth. 



[Continued f;om our last volume, p. 344.] 



Analysis of the natural Muriate of Ammonia of Vesuvius. 



A, 



.FTER the eruption of ^^esuvius in the year 1 "94, which 

 continued several weeks, the vapours of the burning lava 

 became in part condensed into concrete salts, which were 

 found under different forms in the crevices and hollows of 

 the upper scorice of the lava after it had cooled. The prin- 

 cipal products of this natural sublimation are sal anmm- 

 niac and muriate of soda. 



Tiiesal ammoniac is sometimes pure, sometimes coloured 

 yellow, and for the most part cr^-stalliscd in prisms of four 

 planes a little inclined, exceedingly brilliant and transpa- 

 rent. 



Muriate of soda forms almost alwavs shapeless strata of 

 salt librous in their fracture : it is rarely pure, and for the 

 most part mixed with an oxide of copper which commu' 

 nicates to it a green colour more or less intense, and be- 

 sprinkled in many places with small brilliant leaves of sparry 

 iron. 



The sublimated sal ammoniac ouaht, without doubt, to 

 be considered as a product of the decomposition of water 

 and atmospheric air in this grand chemical operation of 

 nature. 



It is not necessary to make a similar supposition to ex-r 

 plain the formation of the muriate of soda. The sea water 

 which penetrates to the focus oi" the volcano and concurs to 

 its eruption contains it reads- formed, while the decompij- 

 sition of a pait of this salt furnishes the free muriatic acid 

 which forms nuiriatc of ammonia. 



M. Klaproth found in his analysis that this muriate is 



perfcctby 



