CHEMISTRY. 



NilM'.CS. 



muriate;. 



with difficulty into thin soft plates, which have but 

 little lustre. It ha* an acid aud astringent taste, i* 

 very soluble in water, and soon deliquesces when ex- 

 po.-i-d to the air. When evaporated, it is readily con- 

 verted into a gummy mass, of the consistence of ho- 

 ney. It is easily decomposed by heat. 



Sp. 10. A'./nj.'c </' Ynria. This salt scarcely 

 crystal!. /.<>. Its taste is sweet and astringent. It 

 'y deliquesces in the air. 



Sp. 11. \iinitc of (.iliicina. This salt may be 

 obtained in the state of a powder, but not in crystals. 

 Its taste is sweet and astringent. It is very soluble 

 in water, and speedily deliquesce* in the air. 



Sp. 12. \ilratc of Zirconia. This salt does not 

 crystallize, but may be obtained in the state of a vis- 

 cid mass, which dries with difficulty. It has an 

 astringent taste. It is very sparingly soluble in wa- 

 ter, and seems, indeed, to be partially decomposed by 

 that liquid. When heated, it readily parts with its 

 acid, and is decomposed. 



The following|Table exhibits the composition of 

 the nitrates, as far as has been ascertained. 



GENUS X. Nitrites. 



When the crystallized nitrates are exposed to a suf- 

 ficient heat, they give out oxygen gas. If the pro- 

 cess be stopped iu time, the salts still continue neu- 

 tral. But the nature of the acid is obviously chan- 

 ged, as it has lost oxygen. Hence by this process 

 the nitrates are converted into nitrite?. The proper- 

 ties of the nitrites have not hitherto been investiga- 

 ted, except the nitrite of potash, examined by Berg- 

 man and Scheele. It deliquesces when exposed to 

 the air, and gives out nitrous fumes, when treated 

 with any acid, even the acetic. 



GENUS XI. Hypcroxymuriatet. 



This genus of salts was discovered by Berthollet. 

 But except the first species, all the rest were nearly 

 unknown till examined by Clienevix in 1802. They 

 are formed by passing a current of oxymuriatic acid 

 through the bases dissolved in water. When heated 

 nearly to redness, they give out oxygen gas, and are 

 converted into muriates. When mixed with combus- 

 tibles and heated, triturated, or struck upon an an- 

 vil, they detonate with great violence. 



Sp. 1. Hyperofymuriute of Potmh. This salt 

 crystallizes in flat rhomboidal prisms, of a silvery 

 whiteness. Its taste is cooling, austere, and disa- 

 greeable, somewhat analogous to that of nitre. It 

 dissolves in 16 part* of cold, and '2\ of boiling water. 

 It is not sensibly altered by exposure to the air. 

 When heated nearly to redness, it gives out more 

 than a third of its weight of oxygen gas. It deto- 

 nates loudly when mixed with sulphur or phospho- 

 rus, and struck upon an anvil, or triturated in a mor- 

 tar. The experiment ought not to be tried with 

 more than a grain of the mixture. It may be made 

 into gunpowder with sulphur and charcoal, but it is 

 liable to explode during the preparation. 



Sp. 2. Hyperoxymuriate of Soda. This fait ii 

 not easily obtained pure, because it is as soluble io 

 water as the muriate of soda, with which it is mixed 

 in the preparation. It crystallizes in cubes. It pro- 

 duces a sensation of cold in the mouth, and has a lasts 

 different from that of common salt. It dissolves ia 

 about three parts of cold water. In the air it deli- 

 quesces slightly. It dissolves in alcohol. 



Sp. 3. Hyperoxymuriate of Amnionin. This salt 

 may be formed by mixing carbonate of ammonia with 

 an earthy hyperoxymunate. It is very soluble in 

 water and alcohol, and is decomposed at a moderate 

 temperature. 



Sp. 4. Hyperoxymuriale of Magnesia. This salt 

 resembles the hyperoxymurute of lime in its proper- 

 ties. 



Sp. 5. Hyperoxymuriate of Lime. This salt may 

 be formed by passing a current of oxymuriatic acid 

 gas through lime diffused in water, and boili.i^ phos- 

 phate of silver in the solution, filtering and evapora- 

 ting. Its taste is sharp and bitter. It is very deli- 

 quescent, and dissolves copiously in alcohol. 



Sp. 6. Hyperotymuriate of Barytes. This salt 

 may be obtained in the same way a=. the preceding 

 species. It is soluble in four parts of cold water. 



Sp. 7. Hyperoxymuriate of Strontian. This salt 

 may be prepared like the preceding. It crystallizes 

 in needles, deliquesces, and in soluble in alcohol. 



The following Table exhibits a view of the consti- 

 tuents of the hyperoxymuriates, as far as has bee 

 ascertained. 



klrrnrntt 



.,1 

 Chemistry. 



GENUS XII. Arteniatet. 

 When the salts belonging to this genus arc heated Aweniatti. 



