OF MERCURY. 401 



grains. But 26 : 6-25 : : 6-98 : 1 -678 = acid in 

 the 10 grains of salt : And 3-02 1-678 = 

 1 '312 = water in the 10 grains. Hence, the 

 constituents are 



Acetic acid l-6?8 or 6-25 



Protoxide of mercury 6-98 - 26 

 Water 1-342 - 4'99 



From this it follows, that the constituents of the 

 salt are 



1 atom acetic acid 6-25 



1 atom protoxide of mercury 26 

 4- atoms water 4-5 



36-75 



The excess of water in the experimental result 

 is owing to the cause pointed out, while giving 

 an account of the constituents of protochromate 

 of mercury. 



8. Protoxalate of mercury. This salt may be 

 easily obtained by mixing together solutions of 

 nitrate of mercury and oxalate of ammonia. It 

 precipitates in the state of a white powder, 

 which is nearly tasteless and insoluble in water. 

 When dried in a heat of about 100, it is a beau- 

 tiful white powder, which when placed on the 

 sand bath gives out a little water ; it then ex- 

 plodes with considerable violence. In conse- 

 quence of this property I did not succeed in de- 

 termining the water of crystallization. But 



VOL. II. 



