4 Sir H. Davy's Account 



labours, which were carried on in Mr. Children's laboratory 

 at Tunbridge, by Mr. Warburton. 



It was found that the solution of oxalate of ammonia, or a 

 very weak solution of pure ammonia, answered the purpose 

 as well as the solution of nitrate of ammonia. It was formed 

 most rapidly in the solution of ammonia, but it was white 

 and clouded ; and though less evanescent than in the strong 

 solution I first used, it was far from being as permanent as 

 in the solutions of nitrate and oxalate. The solution of prus- 

 siate of ammonia acted on by chlorine, afforded none of the 

 peculiar oil; but produced white fumes, and became of a 

 bright green colour. An attempt was made to procure the 

 substance in large quantities, by passing chlorine into Wolfe's 

 bottles, containing the different solutions, but a single trial 

 proved the danger of this mode of operating ; the compound 

 had scarcely began to form, when, by the action of some 

 ammoniacal vapour on chlorine, heat was produced, which 

 occasioned a violent explosion, and the whole apparatus was 

 destroyed. 



I shall now describe the properties of the new substance. 

 Its colour is very nearly that of olive oil, and it is as transpa- 

 rent, and more perfectly liquid. I have not been able to ascer- 

 tain its specific gravity with accuracy, but it is probably above 

 1.6. Its smell is very nauseous, strongly resembling that of 

 the combination of carbonic oxide and chlorine, discovered by 

 my brother ; and its effect on the eyes is peculiarly pungent 

 and distressing. A little of it was introduced under water 

 into the receiver of an air pump, and the receiver exhausted ; 

 it became an elastic fluid, and in its gaseous state was rapidly 

 absorbed or decomposed by the water. When warm water 



