Chemiflry, ^3 



refearches, and, particularly, for developing the natural hif- 

 tory of that State. The affociation has aflumed the title of 

 The ConneSilcut Academy of Arts and Sciences The general 

 „.eetiag of the Academy, for the eiaion of officers, .s to be 

 held, annually, at New-Haven, on the fourth Tuefday of 

 Oaober; and the other meetings are to be on t^e fourth 

 Tuefdays of December, February, April, June, and Augult, 

 at New-Haven. 



CHEMISTRY. 



The following articles of chemical news were communi- 

 cated to Samuel L. Mitchill, M. D. Profeffor of Chennftry 

 in C<.lumbia College, New-York, by James Woodhoufe, 

 M.D. Profcfibr of Chemiftry in the Univerfity ot Pennlyl- 

 vania, in a letter dated Auguft 23, 1799 ' 



I. Ofibe mn-Aalon of the Nitric Add on Silver, Copper, 

 and Tin, 

 Havincr occafion to make a folution of filver in the nitric 

 acid, feveral thin pieces of lilver were digefted forty-e.ght 

 hours, in a fmall quantity of the moft pure and concentrated 

 acid, prepared by dillilling ftrong fulphuric acid on mtre 

 from which the water of cryftallifation had been thrown off 

 by means of heat, and the metal was not diflolved. Ihe 

 temperature of the air varied between 75 and 90 degrees ot 

 Fahrenheit's thermometer. 



This phenomenon was contrary to what ought to have 

 taken place, according to the chemifts of all nations, who 

 declare that the nitric acid diffolves filver with the utmoft 



rapidity. . 



Suppofincr that the non-adion of the acid was owing to 

 the metal being in fmall malVes, the filings of filver were 

 tried, but no folution took place in the fpace of two days. 

 Having then added a fmall quantity of water to the acid, 

 the filler was diifolved in a few minutes. 



Repeating this experiment upon copper, the fame efica 



happened. 



" Nitric acid was poured upon copper, and no action was 



produced; but, uppon the addition of water, folution imme- 



