VOL. XC.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 657 



oxide of azote, when mixed with nitrous gas. The gas separable by the same 

 acid, from nitrous etherized gas, and from the mercurial powder, have therefore 

 the same properties. Every chemist would thence conclude, that the nitrous 

 etherized gas is a constituent part of the powder, had the inflammable and nitrous 

 gas, instead of the inflammable and carbonic acid gas, been the mixed product 

 extricated from it by dilute sulphuric acid. It however appears to me, that nitrous 

 gas was really produced by the action of the dilute sulphuric acid ; and that, when 

 produced, it united to an excess of oxygen present in the oxalate of mercury. 



To explain how this change might happen, I must premise that my experiments 

 have shown me, that oxalate of mercury can exist in 2, if not in 3 states. 1st. By 

 the discovery of Mr. Ameilon already quoted, the precipitate obtained by oxalic acid, 

 from nitrate of mercury, fuses with a hissing noise. This precipitate is an oxalate 

 of mercury, seemingly with excess of oxygen. Mercury dissolved in sulphuric acid 

 and precipitated by oxalic acid, and also the pure red oxide of mercury digested with 

 oxalic acid, give oxalates in the same state. 2dly. Acetate of mercury precipitated 

 by oxalic acid, though a true oxalate is formed, has no kind of inflammability. I 

 consider it as an oxalate with less oxygen than those above-mentioned. 3dly. A 

 solution of nitrate of mercury boiled with dulcified spirit of nitre, gives an oxalate 

 more inflammable than any other : perhaps it contains most oxygen. 



The oxalate of mercury remaining from the powder in the sulphuric liquor, is not 

 only always in the same state as that precipitated from acetate of mercury, entirely 

 devoid of inflammability, but contains globules of quicksilver ; consequently it must 

 have parted with even more than its excess of oxygen ; and if nitrous gas was pre- 

 sent, it would of course seize at least a portion of that oxygen. It is true, that 

 globules of quicksilver may seem incompatible with nitrous acid ; but the quantity 

 of the one may not correspond with that of the other, or the dilution of the acid 

 may destroy its action. As to the presence of the carbonic acid, it must have arisen 

 either from a complete* decomposition of a part of the oxalate; or, admitting the 

 nitrous etherized gas to be a constituent principle of the powder, from a portion of 

 the oxygen, not taken up by the nitrous gas, being united with the carbon of the 

 etherized gas. 



§ 13. The muriatic acid digested with the mercurial powder, dissolves a portion 

 of it, without extricating any notable quantity of gas. The dissolution evaporated 

 to a dry salt, tastes like corrosive sublimate ; and the portion which the acid does 

 not take up, is left in the state of an uninflammable oxalate. 



§ 14. These effects all tend to establish the existence of the nitrous etherized 

 gas, as a^nstituent part of the powder ; and also corroborate the explanation I 

 have ventured to give, of the action of the sulphuric acid. A measured l-±- oz. of 

 nitrous acid, holding 100 gr. of mercury in solution, and 2 measured ounces of 



* Inflammable oxalate of mercury, made to fuse in a retort connected with the quicksilver tube, gives 

 out carbonic acid gas. — Orig. 



VOL. XVIII. 4 P 



