410 Scientific Corr lence. 
z 
separation of the elements of water, and which will regenerate the salts 
reassuming them. They are known to chemists as amids, anhydrids 
or uitryls]. Supposing nitrogen to act in the same way, Viz: to assiml- 
late four equivalents of water, it will form néérite of ammonia, whieh, by 
a well known tendency of the nitrites, will pass into the condition of 
nitrate. [The action consists in the assumption of the water by two 
equivalents, of the nitrous oxyd in one case, and of the nitrogen in the 
i In the case of nitrous oxyd it may be represented thus N,0,+ 
H,0,—=NO,NH,; and in the case of nitrogen N,—+H,0,=NO% 
NH, |. If potash be present, the nitrite of potash will be produced by — 
decomposition of the ammoniacal salt, and the ammonia set free may 
itself be nitrified. Without going into theoretical discussions, this hypo 
thesis may be alluded to as one arrived at by legitimate analogies, an 
which it would be interesting and useful to test by experimental invest 
ations.” . sa 
The foregoing passage is exactly copied from the Report, with a ‘ 
exception of obvious typographical errors and the incorporation of : 
foot-notes enclosed in brackets, cet 
As a further contribution to the history of the subject the following . 
reference may be made: Proceedings of the American Ae ae 
tion for the Advancement of Science, Fourth Meeting, held at New Haven, ces 
Conn., August, 1850, there will be found on page 206 a paper ‘Coll, - 
“ On a new test for nitrates, By Prof. G. C. Schaeffer of Center VO" 
the kindnes of Mr. Hunt. eaeadis upon 
A few quotations from this paper must conclude this intrusiop "r” 
- your patience. - tow has hithert® 
“New test for the Nitrites and Nitrates, &e.—Chemistry 28s ™ “al 
furnished no distinctive test for the nitrites when presented vats, t2@ 
quantities. From the supposed unfrequent occurrence of these sa 
want of such a test has never felt. pa ied 
For several years, I have been engaged in a research which has a 
_to believe that the nitrites are of far more frequent occurrenc® © 
nly supposed, and that they have been mistaken for nitrates 
process, with pure sulphuric acid and protosulphate of 1M 
