COMBINATION OF MERCURY 



fttll remained, a fnowy-like fait could be extract- 

 ed, by pouring upon it the diftilled acetous a- 

 cid *. 1 am unwilling to relate any more ex- 

 periments refpedling the various combinations of 

 metals with corrofive fublimate, led I fhould feem 

 to have forgot the juft limits of this diflertation. 



5 xv. The Qiantity of 4 cid and Mercury in cor. 

 rofwe Sublimate, and its f pec [fie II 'eight. 



CORROSIVE fublimate was held by the ancient 

 chcmilb in great ciVunation, chiefly becaufe 

 they believed that in it were united all the mi- 

 neral acids. Barchufcn was very properly of o- 

 pinion, that it contained the acid of fait only : 

 The arguments on which he founds this idea 

 will be related as we proceed. Among the 

 more modern chemills, Gellcrt apprehended 

 that the nitrous, as Well as the muriatic acid, en- 

 tcred into the compofition of corrofive fubli- 

 mate -f. But although, from the different 

 modes of preparing this fait, we do not deny 

 that it may fomctimcs be corrupted with the 

 vitriolic, or with the nitrous acid, yet thefe acids 

 are neither always prefcnt or absolutely requi- 

 Jite, and corrofive fublimate can be very well 

 prepared without the ailiilance of cither, (^3. 4.) 

 It appears, therefore, that mercury can be alto- 

 gether 



* Pott dc fa Je com muni, 

 f Mctallurgifche chymie, 



