URIC ACID. 37 



but C 11 H 4 Az 4 O 6 would have answered their purpose as well. 



They consider uric acid to be a compound of 1 atom urea and 



1 atom of a peculiar acid represented by the formula, C 8 Az 2 O 4 ; 



but we may as well suppose it C 9 Az 2 O 4 , and then we have 

 1 atom urea, . C 2 H 4 Az 2 O 2 



1 atom peculiar acid, . C 9 Az 2 O 4 



Making ] atom of uric acid, C 11 H 4 Az 4 O 6 = 21-75 

 When uric acid is subjected to distillation in a retort, it fur- 

 nishes a considerable quantity of cyanuric acid and urea. 



From the] late experiments of Liebig, it would appear that 

 the atomic weight of cyanuric acid ought to be doubled. If so, 

 it consists of 3 (C 2 Az) Az 3 O 6 = 16-125. This being the atomic 

 weight of the acid, it is clear that the salt formerly called bicy- 

 anurate of potash is, in fact, a cyanurate, and when heated to 

 212, the cyanuric acid loses an atom of water ; for the salt is 

 composed of 



1 atom, 3 (C 2 Az) + H 2 O 5 , . 15 

 1 atom potash, . . .6 



21 



He analyzed the salt formerly called cyanurate of potash, (but 

 which will be a dicyanurate if we double the atomic weight of 

 the acid), and found it had lost another atom of water, the acid 

 now consisting of (C 2 Az) 3 HO 4 . 



He analyzed cyanurate of silver, and found it a compound of 

 three atoms oxide of silver, with a new modification of cyanuric 

 acid. For it is deprived of an additional atom of water, and con- 

 sisted of (C 2 Az) 3 O 3 = 12-75.* 



Thus it appears that cyanuric acid exists in three states. 

 When uncombined it is . (C 2 Az) 3 H 3 O 6 = 16-125 



When united to 1 atom potash, . (C 2 Az) 3 H 2 O 5 = 15. 

 United to 2 atoms potash, . (C 2 Az) 3 H O 4 = 13-875 



United to 3 atoms oxide of silver, (C 2 Az) 3 O 3 = 12-75 

 An additional atom of base always displacing a corresponding 

 atom of water. 



Now, neither urea nor cyanuric acid, in any of these four 

 states, is volatile ; yet they are obtained from uric acid by sub' 

 limation. But the cyanuric acid may be a product from the de- 



* Ann. cle Chim. et de Phys. lxviii.18. 



