HISTORY OF PRUSSIATES. * 109 



potash is likewise one of the principles resulting from this 

 destruction, it does not cease to add to what is found there 

 already. 



Curaudcau was aware of the injury occasioned by boiling unless a little 

 the lixiviums, and happily prevented its effects, by adding Sl >lp {i ate of 



.. • , i i. • , , , . . , ""on be added, 



to them a little sulphate of iron, agreeably to the principle 



of Scheele, who made known, that the simple prussiate 

 was converted into a triple prussiate, whenever it could t0 f°"n the 

 acquire a portion of black oxide, and thus defended itself 

 from decomposition. As to the products of the destruc- 

 tion of the prussiate by fusion, or by ebullition, undoubt- 

 edly there is nothing extraordinary in them, since it is suf- 

 ficient for us to be acquainted with the nature of the prus- 

 sic acid to foresee them ; but it is not the same with respect 

 to the carbonic acid, which presents itself during one of 

 these destructions. Whence, for instance, comes the Whence the 

 oxigen, which, during the ebullition of ihe aqueous prus- £ arboi \ ic aei<J 

 siate, acidifies the carbon of the prussic acid P Either this 

 oxigen must be one of the principles of the prussic acid 

 that is destroyed, or we must suppose, that a decomposi- 

 tion of water has taken place. I do not think we are yet 

 sufficiently advanced, to choose between these two opinions ; 

 but till we have a clearer insight into the subject, I cannot 

 help saying, that, if we reflect on the circumstances ac- 

 companying the production of the prussic acid, we shall 

 be more inclined to adopt the opinion of Berthollet, than 

 any other hypothesis. His words are: n it appears to Most probaW _ 

 me difficult to conceive the existence of oxigen in a sub- n » oxigen-in 

 stance, which contains elements so strongly disposed to 

 form particular combinations with it, as hidrogen and car- 

 bon, and yet is capable of enduring a pretty high tempera- 

 ture without being decomposed." In fact, to admit that 

 this acid is an oxigenized compound, we must suppose, 

 that such an acid is capable of disputing oxigen with the 

 carbon by which it is surrounded on all sides ; and not only 

 place it at the head of the acids, but even of those oxides 

 which are known to be most difficult of reduction, 



(To be continued.) 



II. A Tate 



