On the Combinations of the yellow Oxide of Lead, Sc, 263 
hot in order to discover if all the acid had been volatilized. When 
I perceived that there was no more diminution of weight, { found 
it necessary to put into the basin of the balance, in which the 
crucible was, 1°65 gr. in order to restore the equilibrium. This 
weight representing that of the acid contained in five grammes 
of nitrate, it follows that this salt is formed of 
Acwdiaaae deeds een da 100 
Oxidetsd. daa? 93067 203 
A result which differs very little from that of M. Berzelius. This 
excellent chemist found 
Acids, patti aien odds B29775 
Oxide ss 'a/0/s heals. i MOF BBD 
5. Before commencing the examination of the yellow salt, I 
wished to know the action of the oxide of lead on the nitrate. 
I heated in boiling water equal weights of these two substances, 
and filtered the liquor in a flask while still warm. When the latter 
“was full [ closed it up, in order that the liquor might not come 
- in contact with the carbonic acid of the atmosphere. Upon 
cooling, crystals of nitrate of lead were deposited in scales *. 
This salt has a slight saccharine and astringent taste: it crystal- 
lizes in scales or small needles. It is not acid. When we pass 
a stream of carbonic acid into its solution, we reduce it to octahe- 
dral nitrate, and to carbonate. Two hundred parts of nitrate 
heated in a platina crucible lost 39°72. Previous to decomposing 
this salt, I ascertained that no more water was extricated when 
heated in a close and very long glass tube. The nitrate is there- 
fore formed of Acid......... 19°86 100 
Oxides 202.56 8:14 403 
-This analysis confirms the law laid down by Dr, Wollaston for 
the combination of the elements of salts, for in the nitrate of 
lead we find that the quantity of the base is double that which 
is contained in the acid nitrate. 
6. The nitrate of lead differs so much from the yellow salt in 
respect of its physical properties, that it was impossible to regard 
them as identical, and to adopt the same opinion with Mr. 
Thomson; and what confirms the difference which existed be- — 
tween these two salts, is, that having prepared a little yellow salt, 
I found that it sent forth nitrous acid gas with nitric acid; 
whereas the nitrate did not emit any.. From this moment I was 
of opinion with M. Proust that there was an oxide still more at 
the minimum than litharge. 
7. In order to determine the quantity of oxygen in this oxide, 
I put into a matrass 350 grammes of water, four grammes of 
acid nitrate, and six grammes of lead cut in small pieces. I 
boiled the whole, and took care to pour boiling water into the 
* [shall call this salt nitrate of lead, and the octahedral nitrate, acid nitrate. 
R4 matrass 
/ 
