^ On tf nltnv fulmlndilng Mereuiy., 



had, in applying the requifite heat, that a fpeedy jmd not fe 



\-iolent action be efFe6lcd. loo grains of an oxyd are not 



fo produftive as lOO grams of qnickfilver. 



As to the colour, it feems to incline to black, when the 



aftion of the acid on the alcohol is moft violent, and mec 



'irerjd. 



Section X. 



I need not obferve, that the gafes which were generated 

 during the combuftion of the powder in the glafs globe, were 

 neceflarily mixed with atmofpheric air; the facility with 

 which the eleftric fluid paflea through a vacuum made fuch t 

 mixture unavoidable. 



The cubical inch of gas received over water was not rea- 

 dily abforbed by it 5 and, as it foon extinguished a taper, 

 without becoming red, or being itfelf inflamed, barytes water 

 was let up to the three cubical inches received over mercury, 

 when a carbonat of barytes was immediately precipitated. 



The refidue of feveral explofions, after the carbonic acid 

 had been feparated, was found, by the teft of nitit)us gas, t© 

 contain nitrogen or azotic gas ; which does not proceed from 

 any decompofition of atmofpheric air, becaufe the powder 

 may be made to explode under the exhaufted receiver of an 

 ■air-pump. It is therefore manifeft, that the gafes generated 

 during the combuflion of the fulminating mercury confift 

 cf carbonic acid and nitrogen gafes. 



Section XI. 

 The principal re-agents which decompofe the mercurial 

 powder are, the nitric, the fulphuric, and the muriatic acids. 

 The nitric changes the whole into nitrous gas, carbonic acid 

 gas, acetous acid, and nitrat of mercury. I refolved it into 

 thefe different, principles, by diftilling it pneumatically with 

 nitric acid : this acid, upon the application of heat, foon dif- 

 folved the powder, and extricated a quantity of gas, which 

 was found, by well known tefts, to be nitrous gas mixed 

 with carbonic acid gas. The diftillation was carried, on until 

 gas no longer came over. The liquor of the retort was then 

 mixed with the liquor colle(fted in the receiver, and the whole 

 faturated with potafh^ which precipitated the luercury in a 

 ,\ ' f yellowifli- 



