444 On a gaseous Compound 



was different from that of chlorine, something like that 

 which one might imagine would result from the smell of 

 chlorine combined with that of ammonia, yet more into- 

 lerable and suffocating than chlorine itself, and affecting 

 the eyes in a peculiar manner, producing a rapid flow of 

 tears and occasioning painful sensations. 



Its chemical properties were not less decidedly marked 

 than its physical ones. 



Thrown into a tube full of mercury containing a slip of 

 dry litmus paper, it immediately rendered the paper red. 



Mixed with ammoniacal gas, a rapid condensation took 

 place, a white salt was formed, and much heat was pro- 

 duced. 



The compound of this gas and ammonia w^s a perfect 

 neutral salt, neither changing the colour of turmeric or lit- 

 mus ; it had no percf ptible odour, but a pungent saline 

 taste J it was deliquescent, and of course very soluble in 

 water; it was decomposed bv the sulphuric, nitric, and 

 phosphoric acids, and also by liquid muriatic acid ; but it 

 suhhmed unaltered in the muriatic, carbonic, and sulphu- 

 reous acid gasses, and dissolved without effervescing in 

 acetic acid. The pr>ducts of its decomposition collected 

 over mercury were found to be the carbonic and muriatic 

 acid gasjies ; and in the experiment with concentrated sul- 

 phuric acid when accurate results could be obtained, these 

 two gasses were in such proportions, that the volume of the 

 latter was double ihit of the fonper. 



r have ascertained by repeated trials, both synthetical and 

 analytical, that the gas cciudensts four times its volume of 

 the volatile alkali, and I have not been able to combine it 

 with a smaller proportion. 



Tin fused in the gas in a bent glass tube over mercuryj 

 bv means of a spirit lamp, rapidly decomposed it ; the li- 

 quor of Libavius was formed ; and when the vessel had 

 cooled, there was not the least change of the volume of 

 the gas perceptible ; but the gas had entirely lost its (;ffen- 

 sive odour, and was merely carbonic oxide ; for like car- 

 bonic oxide it burnt with a blue flame, afforded carbonic 

 acid bv its combustion, and was i::ot absorbable bv water. 



The effects of zinc, antimony, and arsenic heated in the 

 gas, were similar to ihoseof tin ; compounds of ihese me- 

 tals and chlorine were formed, and carbomc oxide in each 

 expcrimt-nt wa. liberated equal in volume to the gas decom- 

 posed. In each instance the action of the nictal was quick ; 

 the decomposition being cumpltled in ie^s than ten mi- 

 nutes 3 but though the action was rapid, it was likewise 



tranquil. 



