1QS FULMINATING MliHCl RY. 



the powder, from a portion of the oxygen, not taken up by the 

 nitrous gass, being united with the carbon of the -theriz< <l i; 



" The muriatic acid, digested with the mercurial powder, dis- 

 solves a portion of it, without extricating any notable (iirn\tity of 

 gass. The dissolution, evaporated to a dry salt, tastes lik< 

 corrosive sublimate ; and the portion which the acid dors not take 

 up is left in a stale of an inflammable oxalale. 



" Thtse effects all tend to establish the existence of the nitrous 

 etherized gass, as a constituent part of the powder ; and likewise 

 corroborate the explanation 1 have ventured to give of the action 

 of the sulphuric acid. Moreover, a measured ounce and a half 

 of nitrous acid, holding 100 grains of mercury in .solution, and 

 two measured ounces of alcohol, yield ninety cubical inches only 

 of gass : whereas, without the intervention of mercury, they yield 

 210 inches. Upon the whole, I trust it will be thought reasonable 

 to conclude, that the mercurial powder is composed of the uifrous 

 etherized gass, and of oxalate of mercury with excess of oxygen. 

 1st. Because the nitric converts the mercurial powder entirely into 

 nitrous gass, carbonic acid gass, acetous acid, and nitrate of mir- 

 cury. 2dly. Because the dilute sulphuric acid revolves it into an 

 uninflammable oxalate of mercury, and separates from it a gass re- 

 stmbling that into which the same acid resolves the nitrous etherized 

 gass. 3dly. Because an uninflammable oxalate is likewise left, 

 after the muriatic acid has converted a part of it into sublimate. 

 4thly. Because it cannot be formed by boiling nitrate of mercury, 

 in dulcified spirits of nitre ; although a very inflammable oxalate is 

 by this means produced. Sthly. Because the difference of the pro- 

 duct of gass, from the same measures of alcohol and nitrous acid, 

 with and without mercury in solution, is not trifling; and 6thly. 

 Because nitrogen gass was generated during its combustion in the 

 glass globe. 



* { Should my conclusions be thought warranted by the reasons 

 I have adduced, the theory of the combustion of the mercurial 

 powder will be obvious to every chemist. The hydrogen of the 

 oxalic acid, and of the etherized gass, is first united to the oxygen 

 of the oxalate, forming water; the carbon is saturated with oxy. 

 gen, forming carbonic acid gass ; and a part, if not the whole of 

 the nitrogen of the etherized gass, is separated in the state of 

 nitrogen gass; both which last gasses, it may be recollected, were 

 after the explosion present in the glass globe. The mercury is 



