Vaporization of Mercury in JYitric Ether. 91 



will most generally revive the mercury, and thus prove its exist- 

 ence. The effervescence which follows the addition of carbon- 

 ate of potash to the condensed fumes, together with a crop of crystals 

 of nitrate of potash which results from this addition, demonstrates 

 the existence of the acid. Distillation of the fluid gives a fine, pun- 

 gent and concentrated ether. Hence these fumes, so conspicuous in 

 making fulminating mercury, may be regarded as a curious and pe- 

 culiar combination, chiefly of ether, mercury and nitric acid. 



Nitric oxide is always disengaged towards the end of the process, 

 if not through its whole duration, and is, during the condensation, 

 most probably converted into nitrous acid. The vapor of alcohol is 

 probably present, though it may not be essential to the constitution of 

 the fumes. I may, perhaps hereafter, give you the definite propor- 

 tions of the substances composing these fumes, as I suspect this con- 

 stitution will be found to be nearly uniform. 



In preparing fulminating mercury in considerable quantities, as a 

 business, I have, for the sake of economy and profit, pursued the 

 following course, and can recommend it with confidence, as worthy of 

 the attention of all who may have occasion to make this preparation 

 on a considerable scale. 



I use the best nitric acid I can obtain ; but the alcohol need not be 

 of less specific gravity than .840. In this case, heat will be neces- 

 sary to bring on the specific action which attends the formation of the 

 powder ; and heat, if the acid be good, will always do it, although it 

 may be necessary to continue the fluid at a boiling point for even ten 

 minutes. The product will be found to be perfect; and it is easier 

 to command heat than to obtain very high alcohol. 



After condensing the fumes, I throvs^ down the acid and mercury 

 which they contain, with carbonate of potash, and decant the ether and 

 distil it. The ether thus obtained is used as a medicine, when nitric 

 ether is required ; or, it is used in a lamp, combined with one seventh 

 part of spirits of turpentine, for giving light — a purpose which it an- 

 swers most admirably well. 



After the subsidence of the powder, I decant the fluid and saturate 

 it with potash ; by which process I obtain nitrate of potash, equal in 

 weight to ten per cent, of the acid originally employed. If the fumes 

 be passed through alcohol, they become decomposed, and the alcohol, 

 itself being acidulated, throws down mercury. The fumes passed 

 through water, produce a curious clouded appearance, and the water, 

 after a day or two, throws down mercury. 



