76 Intelligence and Miscellayieous Articles. 



gave at first N O* and much oxygen ; on continuing the distillation 

 there passes a substance which solidifies and forms white crystals in 

 the neck of the retort, and the disengagement of hyponitric [nitrous] 

 acid and oxygen ceases. 



The liquid in the retort is of a deep yellow colour, but becomes 

 colourless by cooling ; when put in contact with water a violent dis- 

 engagement of nitric oxide takes place, and sulphate of nitric oxide 

 remains. The reaction appears to be explained by the decomposi- 

 tion of the nitric compound at a high temperature into the much 

 more stable compoimd nitric oxide, with the disengagement of 

 oxygen. 



The fluoride of boron and the fluoride of silicon, when put into con- 

 tact with nitric oxide, hj^wnitrous, nitrous and nitric acid, give rise 

 to corresponding compounds. The fluoride of boron especially has 

 great aflinity for nitrous compounds ; no one of these compounds 

 forms combinations with nitrous oxide. 



The fluoride of boron and the fluoride of silicon are absorbed in 

 large quantity by concentrated nitric acid ; their solutions emit 

 white fumes : water separates boracic acid from the solution of flu- 

 oride of boron, but does not separate siUcon from that of fluoride of 

 silicon. 



When the last-mentioned fluoride is saturated with the alcalics, the 

 silica is not precipitated, and the fluoride of silicon dissolved appears 

 to enter into the composition of the saline matter obtained. The 

 compound of fluoride ofboron and nitric oxide appears to be the most 

 stable, for on heating the compounds of hyponitrous acid, oxygen is 

 disengaged. The perchloride of tin gives with nitric oxide a cry- 

 stalline compound which readily distils, and is decomposed by wa- 

 ter. Analogous compounds are obtained with the perchloride of 

 tin and hyponitrous, nitrous and nitric acid ; but the reaction of per- 

 chloride of tin on the acids is accompanied with an abundant disen- 

 gagement of chlorine and nitrous acid, and after the distillation ox- 

 ide of tin remains. 



The most oxigenated nitrous compounds appear to be reduced by 

 heat to the state of the compounds of chlorides with nitric oxide, 

 which is the most stable of all the compounds in question. — Ann. 

 de Chim. et de Phys., Mai 1841. 



ON ARSENIURETTED HYDROGEN. BY M. HENRY ROSE. 



A solution of bichloride of mercury is employed to detect the pre- 

 sence of arseniuretted hydrogen and to remove all traces of it ; this 

 gas occasions on the solution a yellow precipitate with a brown 

 tint, and this character distinguishes it from that formed by phos- 

 phuretted hydrogen in the same solution. 



The composition of this precipitate is quite unknown ; Stromeyer 

 appears to be the only chemist who has examined it. According to 

 him, arseniuretted hydrogen forms with the bichloride of mercury, 

 first arsenious acid and protochloride of mercury, and then an 

 amalgam of arsenic and mercury. The precipitate, when treated 



