Carbonic Oxide Gas. 345 
and may be collected in the usual manner over water. If the heat 
be duly moderated, the first and last products, as obtained in the re- 
ceivers, will be pure carbonic oxide gas. The sulphuric acid seems 
to act, by resolving the oxalate into oxalic acid and ammonia; then 
to decompose the oxalic acid into its elements, and to put the whole 
into such a state, as to enable the constituents to recombine, so as to 
form the pure gas. That carbonic acid is actually evolved, cannot be 
doubted, but it seems to join the ammonia instantly, forming the ear- 
bonate of Ammonia, which is absorbed by the water, as fast as it is 
produced. If it is inquired, how it happens that the sulphuric acid 
does not instantly seize the ammonia and form a sulphate, I have only 
to say, that although the moderate heat employed, is amply sufficient 
to drive over the gaseous elements of the oxalate, it is inadequate to 
cause the sulphuric acid to do so. 
The above statement will be better understood, by the use of a di- 
agram ; premising, that the equivalents or combining numbers of the 
several articles, are as as follow; owalic acid 36, made up of 24, or 
3 equivalents of oxygen, and 12, or 2 equivalents of carbon; am- 
monia 17, making the salt 53; carbonic acid 22, made up of 16, or 
2 equivalents of oxygen, and 6, ‘or 1 equivalent of carbon ; sachonis 
oxide 14, composed of 8, or 1 equivalent of oxygen, and 6, or 1 
equivalent of carbon. 
17 ammonia————_--17 ania 
53 53 
= oxygen 8————_-—14 carbonic oxide. 
g oxygen 8 
2, | 36 oxalic acid, >oxygen 8 
= carbon 6 
= carbon 6——22 c. acid $0 ok Suna 
3 
:° 
S. 
a 
If avery gentle heat be continued for some time, the same pro- 
ducts will be had, independently of the use of sulphuric acid; but 
the latter seems to accelerate the process. 
When we employ oxalic acid to make the carbonic oxide gas, a 
portion of carbonic acid is unavoidably formed, and must be removed 
by means of lime water. In like manner, this acid gas is generated 
or evolved, when the oxalate of ammonia is used, but as it combines 
instantly with the ammonia, it does not contaminate the desired pro- 
duct. A small portion of the carbonate of ammonia will be found 
along the beak of the _— but for the most part, it is taken up by 
Vou. XXV.—No. 
