Hot nitric acid 

 decoH,pofesit, li^j^^ 

 aiici forms a kiijd 

 of wax : 



which forms 

 fbap with pot- 

 a/h. 



148 BIRDLIME. 



tic acid and ammonia is procured. There can be no doubt 

 but mat in addition to the acetic acid naturally prefent in 

 birdlime, more is produced by the aftion of the lulphuric 

 acid. 



Nitric acid, whiift cold, has very little power over bird- 

 but on increafing its temperature, the mixture turns 

 yellow, difTolves, and as evaporation advances fwells confi- 

 derably, leaving at laft a hard brittle mafs. This mafs, when 

 a I'econd time fubmitted to the action of nitric acid, is dif- 

 folved, a part being converted into malic and oxalic acids. 

 By continuing the evaporation a yellow matter is obtained, 

 eafily friable, yielding to the preflTure of the fingers like wax, 

 with a kind of elafticity, and melting by means of a gentle 

 heat. 



Potafli combines with this mader, changes its colour from 

 yellow to brown, and forms perfe6i foap. 

 /:ic. hoi partially Alcohnl partially dilTolves it, and becomes yellowifti ; its 

 diffoives It. tranfparency is diminidied by the addition of water. 



On evaporating the alcohol to drynefs, there remains a yel- 

 low matter divefted of the greafy appearance, which yields a 

 fweet odour in burning. 



Cold muriatic acid has no action upon birdlime: when 

 heated it tuins it black. 



Oxigenated muriatic acid operates differently. Either by 

 mixmg the gas with the water containing the liquid birdlime, 

 or by fliaking it in a bottle with the acid in a very concentrated 

 ftate, the following phenomena were equally obferved : 



The birdlime quickly loft its colour, and became white; 

 it was no longer vifcid, but divided into hard compa£l por- 

 tions, containing in their centre a quantity of birdlime, which 

 the oxigenating principle had not reached. This non-oxige- 

 nation may be attributed to the difficulty there is of preferving 

 this fubftance in its liquefied ftate in hot water, whereby the 

 operation of the acid is confined to its exterior furface. 



The charafleriflics of oxigenated birdlime are — 



1. It is capable of being reduced to powder. 



2. It is infoluble in water, even when heated, 



3. It does not become liquefied at a high temperature, 



4. It will not turn yellow, nof will it form a refin with 

 nitric acid, 



Acetous 



Cold muriatic 

 acid ;-.as little 

 aO-i'. - on bird- 

 lime. 



OxigMiatpci m. 

 acii) aiicrs bird- 

 lin.e confider- 

 ably. 



Charafteriftics 

 of oxigenated 

 birdlime. 



