398 SALTS 



rather 5-98 grains. Now, 35-4 : 6 : : 26 : 4-406 

 = carbonic acid united to 26 grains of prot- 

 oxide of mercury. 4-406 approaches so near 

 4-125, which is equivalent to an atom and a 

 half of carbonic acid, that there seems no doubt 

 that the salt was a sesquicarbonate, composed of 



Ji atom carbonic acid . 4' 125 



1 atom protoxide of mercury 26 



30-125 



4. Protophosphate of mercury. This salt was 

 obtained by decomposing nitrate of mercury by 

 phosphate of soda. It is a white tasteless pow- 

 der, insoluble in water. From 96-2 grains of 

 nitrate of mercury I got 85-3 grains of phosphate 

 of mercury ; the phosphate, after being dried in 

 the open air, lost scarcely any weight on the 

 sand bath. From this it is obvious, that the 

 phosphate of mercury is anhydrous, and the 

 weight of the salt from 96-2 of nitrate shows 

 that it is composed of 



1 atom nitric acid . 6- 7 5 



1 atom protoxide of mercury 26 



32-75 



^* Protarseniate of mercury. It is obtained 

 when arseniate of soda is poured into a solution 

 of protonitrate of mercury. It is a grey powder, 

 destitute of taste, and insoluble in water. As it 



