AMMONIA AND NITRIC ACID. 37 



however, on account of the strong tendency which it 

 has to unite with othtr bodies, such as carbonic acid, 

 sulphuric acid, etc. When it can not find any thing 

 else, it is at once absorbed by water, which will take 

 up an immense quantity of it before becoming satu- 

 rated. A pint of cold water will absorb between 6 

 and 700 pints of ammonia. The aqua ammonia of 

 the shops, is water through which ammonia has been 

 passed until it is very strong. By smelling of it, the 

 < it and peculiar odor of ammonia is 



'rong aqua ammonia is so powerful 

 away the breath, and cause a 

 ' ;i. A more agreeable form of 



ammoniacal odor is in the ordinary' smelling salts. 

 These are usually nothing more than carbonate of am- 

 monia, scented in various ways with other perfumes. 



The properties of anamonia ought to be understood 

 by evenii' farmer, because it is a substance of much 

 ! i< e : it does not exist so abundantly in the 



s '" many or most other necessary ingredients, 



and consequently he ought to know how best to in- 

 crease its amount, and how to keep it on bis farm 

 when he has got it there. 



Ammonia is very easily lost, because oriven from 

 its combinations with great facility. If, for instance, 

 you mix with muriate of ammonia, a compoui; ' ' i 

 has litile or no smell of the gas, som*' (]>!irkl. 

 rub the two together, there will imn ,i .strong 



smell of ammonia be perctMvetl,pasM; ,U) the air 



and disappearing. This is a reason why quicklime 

 should not be mixed with manures containing am- 

 monia, as that gas is driven off by it, and the value 

 of the manure greatly diminished. 



Nitric acid (common aquafortis) is another impor- 

 tant source of nitrogen. This acid is compoeed o£ 

 nitrogen and oxygen. It is to be found in druggists* 

 shops, and is a nearly colorless liquid, having a pe- 

 4 



