^|3 COTiiBINATlONb or OXIMUUIATIC ACID AND METALffa 



by dry oxigen gas, is quickly clmnged when moistened 

 with water and confined in a jar of this gas, and there is a 

 rapid absorption of the oxigene*. 

 Th results ^ ^^^^^ "*^^ examined all the specimensr obtained by these 



agree. different methods minutely, though sufficiently, 1 conceive.^ 



to ascertain their identity, and their similarity to the native 

 coini)ound. The colour of all of them is greenish white, like 

 that of the native, in a faiely divided state. When heated, 

 they all afford water, oxigen gas, and a mixture of cuprane 

 and brown oxide of copper. 

 \ Ana'ysis. ^ have analysed only the subrauriate precipitated from a; 



solution of muriate oFcopper by a v/eak solution of potash. 



Fifty grains of this, well washed and dried, boiled in a 

 solution of potash, afforded 36*3 grains of dried brown oxide 

 of copper. 



And 20 grains dissolved in nitric acid, and precipitated by 

 nitrate of silver, afforded 12 75 grains of dried horn silver. 

 These results differ so little from those obtained with the 

 native, as fairly to permit the conclusion, that the composition 

 of the artificial and native subuuiriate of copper is the same. 



2. On the Combinations of Tin and Chlorine, Sfc, 

 Two com- Tin, like copper, is capable of combining with two differ-* 



pounds of tin ^^^ proportions of chlorine. The liquor of Libavius, one of 

 with oxinuiri- , , . . • ^■ , n i , , i • r 



aiic aeid- the combinations, is directly formed by the combustion or 



^ the metal in chlorine gas; and the other, I find, may be 



produced by heating together an amalgam of tin and calo- 

 mel. Thus obtained, it is similar to that which may be 

 procured by evapoiating to dryness the muriate containing 

 the gray oxide of tin, and fusing the residue in a close vessel. 

 Both are of a gray colour, and of a resinous lustre and frac- 

 ture; and both inflame, like tin itself, when heated in 

 chlorine gas, and are converted into the liquor of Libavius 

 by the absorption of a fresh portion of chlorine. Hence, as 

 the liquor of Libavius contains the largest proportion of 

 chlorine, it may be called stannanea, and the other com- 

 pound stannane. 



• 1 have been informed, tliat snbmnriate of copper is sometimes 

 fonnd in the neisjlibonrhood of volcanoes, particularly in that of Vesu- 

 vius. By means of the above facts, it is evident that its productiort 

 might be accounted for in such sit«*tions. 



Stannane 



