90 Vaporization of Metxury in Nitric Ether. 



Knowing that a current transmitted by a helix, has been found to 

 influence the direction of a magnetic needle, placed exterior to it, it 

 has occurred to me to ascertain whether any, (or how much,) mag- 

 netism could be excited in soft iron, by means of an interior roll. I 

 am making some experiments on this subject, which may perhaps 

 lead to some conclusions with regard to the depth of those electrical 

 currents, on which the magnetism of the earth depends, or perhaps 

 render it more probable that these are situated above the earth's sur- 

 face, as conjectured in the paper, a part of which is above quoted. 



Schenectady, Aug. 27, 1831. 



Art. XI. — JYotice of the Vaporization of JWercury in the fumes of 

 JYitric Ether ; also, JYotices of various chemical products — in letters 

 to the Editor; by S. Guthrie, of Sackett's Harbor, N. Y. 



TO PROFESSOR SILLIMAN. 



Dear Sir — Your very interesting suggestion,* that mercury may 

 exist in the fumes arising during the formation of fulminating mercu- 

 ry, has induced me to examine these fumes with more care than I 

 had hitherto done; and I beg leave to present you with the following 

 results of my examination. 



During the vehement action of a solution of mercury in nitric acid 

 upon alcohol, in the formation of fulminating mercury, there arises a 

 great quantity of dense white fumes, having the odor of spirits of ni- 

 trous ether. These fumes, by making them pass into a Woulfe's ap- 

 paratus, are readily condensed into a fine transparent fluid. They 

 are but partially condensible by traversing a refrigeratory worm, but 

 in a Woulfe's apparatus, after some fifteen or twenty minutes, they 

 will be found to be entirely condensed, and they will yield a fluid 

 nearly equal in bulk to the alcohol employed. 



This fluid has the flavor of nitric ether. On standing a few days, 

 mercury is precipitated spontaneously, or it is thrown down at once 

 by heat, or by the addition of potash, to neutralize a quantity of 

 nitric or nitrous acid, and which is essential to the constitution of 

 the fumes. Globules of mercury will most probably be detected 

 fit once in the precipitate ; if not, rubbing the precipitate on paper 



* Made in answer to a letter from Mr. Guthrie, in which he informed me that he 

 had found the condensed fumes mentioned in this paper to consist, chiefly of nitric 

 ether. — Ed. 



