Miscellanies. 199 
5th, Nitrous and nitric oxides, hyponitric, and nitric acids mixed 
with a sufficient quantity of hydrogen, are converted into ammonia by 
their contact with spongy platina, and frequently without even the 
assistance of heat. The action is frequently so energetic that violent 
explosion ensues. All the azote of these oxides or acids passes to the 
state of ammonia, by combining with the hydrogen. An excess of 
nitric acid gives nitrate of ammonia. 
6th. Cyanogen and hydrogen give hydrocyanate of ammonia. 
ith. Olefiant gas and excess of nitric oxide, when hot and passed 
over spongy platina, produce carbonate and hydrocyanate of ammo- 
nia and water, 
8th. With nitric oxide and excess of the vapor of alcohol, there are 
obtained under the same circumstances, the same compounds as above, 
and olefiant gas and a deposite of carbon, 
9th. Free azote could not be combined with free hydrogen, but all 
the compounds of azote were converted into ammonia by hydrogen, 
either free or carburetted. 
10. In the last mentioned reactions, the presence of carbon in com- 
bination with azote or with hydrogen, occasions the formation of hy- 
drocyanic acid. . 
Ith. All the gaseous or vaporizable metalloids, without any ex- 
*eption, combine with hydrogen under the influence of spongy pla- 
tina, 
12th. The vapors of nitric acid mixed with hydrogen are totally 
Converted into acetic wether, and water, at a moderate temperature. 
- Kuhlmann remarks that when precipitated platina (noir de pla- 
tine) is substituted for spongy platina, the action is infinitely less en- 
*rgetic in the greater number of cases, which is the reverse of what 
might be expected. The precipitated platina has indeed no power in 
Producing nitric acid, it is very weak in producing ammonia, and it 
ever becomes incandescent as happens with spongy-platina; but 
in converting acetic acid into ether, the action of precipitated platina 
18 On the contrary more quick, and produces it even at common tem- 
Peratures, 
It has been subsequently remarked that Berzelius has before stated 
that when nitric oxide is mixed with hydrogen gas, and the Rin ster 
®Xposed to partly calcined spongy platina, water and ammonia are 
gradually formed, on account of the union of the hydrogen with both 
the elements of the nitric oxide.—Trraité de Chimie, ii, 43—44; L’In- 
Sttut, No, 261—262.— Ib. 
22. Formation of Metallic Veins by Galvanic Agency —Mr. Fox 
*ays, that he has succeeded not only in forming well-defined metallifer- 
*'S Veins in a crack in the middle of masses of clay by means of vol- 
