SeiF.NTIFIC NEWS. 15^ 



The different configurations of the crystals too may give as are the 

 rrse to some interesting researches, which 1 have not yet had s^i»«^ of the 

 time to pursue. 



SqiENTIFIC NEWS. 



,R. Heinekin having exposed a solution of very pure Solution of 



carbonate of potash to the action of the galvanic pile, found, "^arbonateof 

 1 . ■ '^ . , , .. ■ 1 , . , potash decom- 



th»t yi three or tour days the liquid next the negative pole posed by galva- 



had a<;;quired a golden yellow colour; and a very decided uUm, 

 «raell of oximuriatic acid was perceptible. With the ni- and oximuri* 

 trat«s of silver and of mercury the yellow liquid Ibrmed a^'>**^' ^*'"' 

 grumons precipitate; and it completely destroyed the co- 

 lour of litmus blue, and of ink. The liquid next the po- 

 sitive pole was highly caustic. The conclusions he draws 

 are, that potash and oximuriatic acid are composed of the 

 same principles, or of carbon, hidrogen, and oxigen in 

 different proportions. 



It is a circumstance not a little remarkable, that Mr. Opinionof 



Curaudau and Dr. Davy were led to form similar notions ^'" Curaudau 



/. . • • • 1 . 1 T^ • on the simple 



ot the oximuriatic acid about the same time at Fans and nature of oxi- 



London. From the circumstances of the times it may be '""'**^'*^ 6**- 

 presumed, that there could be no communication between 

 |i^em ; but it is probable, that, though the merit of discovery 

 is equally due to both these gentlemen, if it be not a fal- 

 lacy as some suppose, the priority rests with Mr. Curaudau, 

 as his paper was read to the French Institute on the 5th of 

 March, is 10. 



The following is one of the experiments, on which Mr. Oxinuriatic 

 Curaudau founds his opinion. By combining oximuriatic ^^ ^*"™5 * 

 gas directly with nitrate of silver a precipitate is formed, metallic silver, 

 without any oxigen being disengaged ; and, as the weight 

 of the precipitate thrown down is proportional to that of 

 the gas employed, he infers, that it is a compound of the 

 muriatic radical and silver. He infers farther, that in this 

 process the hidrogen of the acid disoxidates the silver; and 

 the silver thus disoxidated enters directly into combination, 

 with the muriatic radical, so as to form amuriuret of silver. 

 H«Dce vre see, why potash in, the humid way, and carbon ir^ 



the 



