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^nitratc of ammonia. 



6th. Cyanogen and hydrogen give hydrocyanate of ammonia. 



7th. 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. 



11th. All the gaseous or vaporlzable metalloids, without any ex- 

 ception, combine with hydrogen under the influence of spongy pla- 

 tina. 



12th. The vapors of nitric acid mixed with hydrogen are totally 

 converted into acetic tether, and water, at a moderate temperature. 



M. Kuhlmann remarks that when precipitated platina (noir de pla- 

 tine) is substituted for spongy platina, the action is infinitely less ea- 

 ergetic 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 

 never becomes incandescent as happens with spongy platina ; but 

 in converting acetic acid into ajther, the action of precipitated platina 

 is on the contrary more quick, and produces it even at common tem- 

 peratures. 



It has been subsequently remarked that Berzeliushas before stated 

 that when nitric oxide is mixed with hydrogen gas, and the mixture 

 exposed 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. — Traite de Chtmie, 11,43 — 44; JL'Z/z- 

 stitut, No. 261—262 — lb. 



22. Formation of Metallic Veins ly Galvanic Agency. — Mr. Fox 



says, that he has succeeded not only in forming well-defined metallifer- 

 ous veins in a crack in the middle of masses of clay by means of vol- 



