jR On a nctv Juhnlnating Mercury, 



6thly, Becaufe nitrogen gas was generated during Its com* 

 t>ufl:ion in the g!afs globe. 



Should my conclufions be thought warranted by the rea- 

 fons I have adduced, the theory of ihe combuftion of the 

 mercurial powder will be obvious to every chemift. The 

 hydrogen of the oxalic acid, and of the etherifed gas, is firft 

 united to the oxygen of the oxalat, forming water * j the car- 

 bon is faturated with oxygen, forming carbonic acid gas ; 

 and a part, if not the whole, of the nitrogen of the etherifed 

 gas is feparated in the ftate of nitrogen gas ; both which 

 lad gafes, it may be recollefted, were after the explofion 

 prefent in the glafs globe. The mercury is revived, and, l 

 prefume, thrown into vapour ; as may well be imagined, 

 from the immenfe quantity of caloric extricated, by adding 

 concentrate fulphuric acid to the mercurial powder. 



I will not venture to ftate, with accuracy, in what pro- 

 portions, its conttituent principles are combined. The affi- 

 nities I have brought into play are complicated, and the 

 conftitution of the fubftances I have to deal with not fully 

 known. But, to make round numbers, I will refume the 

 ftatement, that loo grains of the mercurial powder loll 16 

 grains of its original weight by treatment with dilute ful- 

 phuric acid : 84 grains of mercurial oxalat, mixed with a 

 few minute globules of quickfilver, remained undiflblved in 

 the acid. The fulphuric liquor was faturated with carbonat 

 of potafli, and"*yielded 3,4 grains of carbonat of mercur}'. 

 If 1,4 grain fliould be thought a proper allowance for the 

 weight of carbonic acid in the 3,4 grains, I will make that 

 deduftion, and add the remaining two grains to the 84 grains 

 ©f mercurial oxalat and quickfilver; I (hall then have, 



of oxalat and mercury _ _ _ 86 grains 



and a deficit, to be afcribed to the nitrous 

 etherifed gas and excefs of oxygen - 14 



100 

 It may perhaps be proper to proceed ftill further, and recur 

 to the 48,5 grains, feparated by nitrat of lime from the 84 



* Diopg of water were obferved on the internal fuj face of the globe 

 tke clay after fcveral explofions lud been produced in its centre. 



graind^ 



