^2 Ammniacal Niire. [Book VI. 



the nitrous acid difengaged in proportion to the qtfan- 

 tity of volatile alkali decompoled ; and the latter gives 

 out phlogifticated air or azotic gas. The liquid pro- 

 'ducl: of this operation being weighed, a greater quantity 

 of water is found than exifted in the ammoniacal nitre ; 

 and M. Berthollet concludes that this fuperaburrdant 

 water is formed by the union of the inflammable gas, 

 which is one of the principles of the volatile alkali, 

 with the vital air of the nitrous acid. The azotic gas> 

 or other principle of the Volatile alkali, which is fix 

 times more in quantity than the inflammable gas, is 

 difengaged and collected under the vefiels of the pneu- 

 matic apparatus. 



This fait diflblves readily in water, atid in a verjr 

 large quantity, but it. has not fo ftrong an attraction for 

 water as to be deliquefcent. It may be decomposed 

 by the vitriolic acid, or either of the fixed alkalis. The 

 nitrous ammoniac is contained in the juices of fome 

 plants, but it is ufually prepared by artificial combina- 

 tion. 



