10 jin Accoitnt of some Experiments on the 



Hence, as the liquor of Libavius contains the largest pfo- 

 portion of chlorine, it may be called stannanea, and (he 

 other compound siannane. 



Stannane is fusible at a heat below that of dull redness; 

 it bears this teniperalure, if an- be neaily excluded, wiihont 

 undergoing anv change; but when subjected to a heat as 

 strong as glass will bear wiihont being fused, it appears to 

 be, from ilie slight fume produced, partially decomposed. 



It aftoids the liquor of Libavius when heated with cor- 

 rosive sublimate, n.lre, red oxide of mercury, or with the 

 livperoxymuriat of potash. In the three last instances, 

 oxide of tin is also formed; and with the hyperoxvmuriat 

 the action is so violent that iniianm)ation is actually pro- 

 duced. 



The liquor of Libavius and auruui musivum are formed 

 when siannane is heated with sulphur. 



Siannane, bv the action of water, appears to be converted 

 into the insoluble submuriat of tin, and the acidulous 

 muriat. 



The stannanea or liquor of Libavius, that I have exa- 

 mined, was made bv heating together an amalgam of tin 

 and corrosive subllniate, in liie proportions commonlv re- 

 commended. I have obtained this compound in another 

 wav, by treating the concentrated solution of the peroxide 

 of tin in muriatic acid, with strong sulphuric acid ; a gentle 

 heat applied to this mixture, contained in a retort, expels 

 the fuming liquor, which may be condensed, as usual, in 

 a cold receiver. 



The only new and remarkable property which I have 

 observed the liquor of Libavius to possess, is its action on 

 oil of turpentine. I was led to make trial of it from an 

 idea of Sir Humphry Davy, that the combinations of the 

 metals and chlorine might be soluble in oils. In the firs^ 

 experiment, when I poured the fuming liquor into the oil, 

 inflammation immediately took place, with violent ebulli- 

 tion and production of dense reddish fumes. I have used 

 other specimens of oil of turpentine, expecting a similar 

 inflammation, but without its occurrence, though there has 

 been in every instance a considerable action. The mixture 

 of the two being made in a retort connected with mercury, 

 no gas was geueiated, oxide of tin appeared to be formed, 

 and a viscid oil was produced, which, like the fat oils, lei't 

 a permanent stain on paper, and had little smell or taste, 

 and which, digested with alcohol, imparted some thing 

 vhich occasioned a permanent cloudiness on the admixiure 

 of water, and an odour to me not unlike that of artificial 



camphor. 



