356 ACTION OF NITRIC ACID ON INDIttO. 



they experience in the detonation of amer. However, thi 

 facts that follow, and those which I purpose to relate, 

 "will show, that it is more natural to consider amer as a com- 

 pound of nitric acid, than as a substance formed directly of 

 oxigen, hidrogen, carbon, and nitrogen. 

 Action of potash 20. Amer is much more soluble in hot water than in cold. 

 on amer. j^g solution is acid, very bitter, and even a little astringent. 



If it be mixed with a concentrated solution of potash, small 

 needly crystals of a gold colour are obtained, which are a 

 compound of amer and potash, and have been described 

 by Welther, Fourcroy, and Vauquelin. These crystals 

 A drtonating detonate loudly when heated. They cannot be heated in a 

 formed S^*^^ ^^*^ without breaking it to pieces. If 15 cent. [2grs.] 



be heated in a small assay matrass, aloud detonation is pro- 

 duced, the vessel is filled with soot, and a smell of prussic 

 acid is emitted. If the matrass be closed as soon as the de- 

 tonation has taken place ; and, when it is cool, a solution 

 of potash be poured in, and afterward of green sulphate 

 of iron, prussian blue will be obtained. 

 Dissolved In 100 dec. of boiling water dissolved 7 dec. of the detona- 



wrater. j.j(,g matter. On cooling, a great part of the latter sepa- 



rated in the form of small needles. The solution was not 

 acid, and did not appear alkaline. 

 Propertiesof This compound is decomposed by nitric or muriatic acid 

 thiscompound, ^^ a |jQj]jj,g \^QQ^t^ as Messrs. Fourcroy and Vauquelin ob- 

 served; and, on cooling, the amer crystallizes in white 

 scales, inclining to straw-colour. But a very remarkable 

 No such thing fact, which proves, that there is no such thing as elective 

 att^ction! attraction, is: if you take a solution of potash, supersa- 

 turated with nitric or muriatic acid, mix with it amer, eva. 

 porate to dryness in a small capsule, and dissolve the re- 

 siduum in hot water, you will obtain on cooling small de- 

 tonating crystals, of a gold colour, formed of amer and 

 potash; whence it follows, that amer decomposes nitrate 

 and muriate of potash. 

 Causes of these Thus we have two opposite effects, that occur within a 

 opposite effects, yg^j^gg ^£ temperature the extremes of which are by no means 

 remote; and which are easily explicable, if we attend to the 

 circumstances. In the first, we perceive that the amer 

 $&uBt first separate, since potash is capable of formlog with 



thft 



