1839.] Americ an Mode of increasing Heat. 209 



nearly a white heat, the gas burns with a clear bluish 

 flame. 



There is a phenomenon which seems still involved in consider- 

 able mystery, and which the chemist has not been able as yet 

 satisfactorily to explain — I allude to the decomposition of 

 amnioniacal gas. This gaseous body suffers no change, even 

 when transmitted through an incandescent porcelain tube. But 

 if several coils of iron wire be introduced, the gas suffers decom- 

 position. It is effected also by copper, £yc. but not entirely by 

 platinum. The metal suffers no chemical change in conse- 

 quence, but a remarkable physical one ; it becomes extremely 

 brittle, so as to be easily crushed between the fingers. It has 

 struck my mind that the phenomenon adverted to, and the 

 aphlogistic exhibitions of platinum, silver, Sec. are similarly 

 related, and may probably be traced to the same cause or source. 

 Some of the metals exhibit aphlogistic effects, and some do no't, 

 and there are metals which decompound amnioniacal gas, and 

 others which do not. Iron, &c. are found extremely brittle after 

 Ihey effect the separation of this compound gas into its elements, 

 and silver wire, when it has shown its aphlogistic powers for 

 some time in inflammable vapour, also becomes brittle.- 

 I have the honour to be, Sir, 



Your most humble and very obedient servant, 



J. Murray. 



Article VIII. 



New Results on the Combination of Oxygen with Water.*' 

 By M. Thenard. 



I have at last succeeded in saturating water with oxygen. 

 The quantity which it then contains is 850 times its volume, or 

 twice as much as the quantity that belongs to it. In that state 

 of saturation, it possesses properties quite peculiar, the most 

 remarkable of which are the following : 



Its specific gravity is 1-453. Hence when it is poured into 

 common water, we see it fall down through that liquid like a sort 

 of syrup, though it is very soluble in it. It attacks the epidermis 

 almost instantly, and produces a prickling pain, the duration of 

 which varies according to the quantity of liquid applied to the 

 skin. If this quantity be too great, or if the liquid be renewed, 

 the skin itself is attacked and destroyed. When applied to the 

 tongue, it whitens it likewise, thickens the saliva, and produces 

 <m the organs of taste a sensation difficult to express; but 

 which approaches to that of tartar emetic. Its action on oxide 

 of silver is exceedingly violent. Every drop of the liquid let fall 



• Translated from the Annates deChimie et de Puysique, x. 335. 



Vol. XIV. N° III. O 



