Quarterly Abstract of European Chemistry. 193 



posed to be rather a compound of the oxide of gold and ammonia 

 than a nitride of gold, as advanced by Dumas ; the principal reason for 

 so thinking, is that there are as many varieties of fulminating gold as 

 their oxides of this metal. 



Saccharic Acid, by M. Heintz, (Beric. Konigl. Preuss. Akad. Jan. 

 1844.) — He has succeeded in preparing this acid without any difficulty 

 in a state of purity, by treating 1 part of sugar with 3 parts of nitric 

 acid of 1-25 sp. gr. and not heating it higher than 122° F. By attend- 

 ing closely to the temperature no trace of oxalic acid is formed. After 

 the reaction is completed, the mixture is saturated with carbonate of 

 potash, then acetic acid is added until the mass smells of it, when the 

 slightly soluble bisaccharate of potash is left undissolved, and if dried 

 between blotting paper and re-crystallized, it can be obtained perfectly 

 pure ; from this the saccharate of cadmium is formed, and decomposed 

 by hydrosulphuric acid to furnish the saccharic acid, (the lead salt will 

 not answer for this purpose.) The acid can be obtained as a brittle 

 mass by evaporation and desiccation in a vacuum with sulphuric acid. 



Sulphacetic Acid, by M. Melsens, (Ann. de Chim. et de Phys. 

 March, 1844, p. 370.) — This acid is formed by the action of sulphuric 

 acid upon acetic acid ; the best mode of forming it is as follows. Add 

 together anhydrous sulphuric and acetic acids, and assist the reaction 

 by heat ; saturate with carbonate of baryta ; decompose the crude salt 

 with sulphuric acid ; filter ; saturate with oxide of silver, when the 

 sulphacetate of silver )vill crystallize out. The acid can now be ob- 

 tained by decomposing this salt with sulphuretted hydrogen. The acid 

 can be procured in the form of crystals which are very deliquescent ; 

 heated to 160° C. (320° F.) it gives the characteristic smell of caramel 

 or burnt tartaric acid, when it becomes brown ; at 200° C. (392° F.) 

 its decomposition is complete. The following formula represents the 

 composition of the acid. C^ (H2, SO^) O^, 80% 2HO+2Aq. It com- 

 bines with bases, 2H0 being replaced by two atoms of the base. 



Lithia — Blowpipe test when mixed with Soda, by W. Stein, (Journ. 

 fiir Prakt. Chem. Vol. 31, p. 361.) — The method proposed is to fuse 

 the mixed salts upon a wire ; immerse it while still warm into the tallow 

 of the candle used ; introduce it again in the flame, and watch closely 

 the flame, when, if lithia be present, it will have a red margin. The 

 reason of this appears to be, that the lithia salts are volatile at a lower 

 temperature than the soda salts, which latter will therefore not conceal 

 the effect of the lithia, provided the blowpipe be not used, and the tempe- 

 rature not elevated sufficiently to volatilize the soda ; for if that be done, 

 the minutest portion will render the blowpipe test for lithia useless. 



Vol. xLvni, No. 1.— Oct.-Dec. 1844. 25 



