Examination of the Peroxide of Manganese. 87 
- Bitartrate of potassa, particularly if warm, dissolves the deut- 
- oxide of manganese with considerable energy, at the same time 
evolving oxygen and forming a tartrate of manganese and potassa, 
which is a highly crystalline brownish mass, of hardly any flavor, 
24 and soluble both in nitric and hydrochloric acids. 
Nee 
t 
*; . 
2" Nae 
F gots 
Benzoic acid.—When benzoic acid is boiled with peroxide of 
manganese, there is a benzoate formed, slightly soluble in water. 
Thus obtained, it is a dirty white substanen, of a maytiging oil 
pearance. 
Succinie acid.—This acid forms a protosuccinate when di- 
gested upon peroxide, but with the deutoxide, it, like tartaric 
acid, forms a per-salt, which is soluble in water, of a whitish 
color, crystalline and very acid. 
acenuc acid:—This like the last forms a per-salt with the 
deutoxide, and a proto-salt with the peroxide. The resulting so- 
lution, by evaporation, leaves the salt somewhat crystalline, 
whitish brown, and quite acid. 
Citric acid.—With citric acid, both the per and deutoxide act 
as towards the last. 'The percitrate obtained from the deutoxide 
is a brown, gummy, seemingly uncrystallizable mass, of a pleas- 
ant acid taste, slightly deliquescent, and is soluble, although not 
very readily, in both nitric and muriatic acids. 
Gallic acid.—T he pergallate of manganese may be obtained 
by dissolving the peroxide in gallic acid. The solution thus ob- 
tained is of a deep brown color, and the salt obtained by evapora- 
tion is nearly black. It does not appear to crystallize. 
These are all the acids, of which I have been able to note the 
action with the per or deutoxide of manganese. I have followed 
Berzelius in calling peroxide, that one which might perhaps be 
more correctly termed sesquioxide, as its formula is Mn, but as it is 
very similar to the analogous oxide of iron, also termed peroxide, 
and as it is the highest oxide of manganese which forms combi- 
nations with acids, it seems best to apply the term of peroxide to 
this, and super or binoxide to the black oxide of commerce. 
If time should favor me, I propose to pursue the above subject, 
as it is probable that much remains to be determined, concerning 
the compounds of manganese, before we can say with peapaent 
t we are acquainted with the metal. 
"Philadelphia, May 8th, 184}. 
