358 MM. C. Lea—Chloride, Bromide and Iodide of Silver. 
Action of Cuprie Chloride on Silver. 
When metallic silver is submitted to the action of either 
cupric chloride, or what gives the same result, a mixture of 
copper sulphate and ammonium chloride, an action takes place 
very similar to that of ferric chloride, but more energetic, and 
the resulting red chloride is apt to be lighter in shade, though 
in this respect it varies very much. As in the case of ferric 
cbloride this action of cupric chloride on silver is given in some 
text books as a means of obtaining argentous chloride for which 
purpose it is as little suited as the iron salt. 
As a mode of obtaining red chloride it is not to be recom- 
mended. Itis troublesome to get the copper completely re- 
moved. 
A specimen analyzed was found to consist of white chloride 
with 6°28 per cent of subchloride. 
Action of Protochlorides on Silver Solutions. 
Cuprous Chloride—When very dilute solution of silver 
nitrate is poured over cuprous chloride, a bulky black powder 
results which by boiling with dilute nitric acid turns red, the 
acid extracting little or no silver. 
Ferrous Chloride.—When silver nitrate is dissolved in a 
slight excess of ammonia, and this solution is poured into a 
strong one of ferrous chloride there results a precipitate which 
is sometimes grayish, sometimes olive black. By washing with 
dilute sulphuric acid, this product becomes brownish purple, 
and brightens by boiling with dilute nitric acid. It was found 
to contain 4:26 per cent of subchloride. 
Photochloride by Action of Hydrogen. 
When hydrogen is passed over argentic citrate at 212° F., as 
in Wohler’s process, there results a black or dark brown powder 
consisting of argentous citrate, metallic silver, and perhaps other 
substances. When this is treated with hydrochloric acid and 
subsequently with nitric, the resulting product is photochloride, 
the characteristic color of which sometimes appears as soon as 
the HCl is added. But more frequently the material after the 
action of HCl has precisely the appearance of silver reduced in 
the wet way, and the red color appears only after treatment 
with nitric acid. Hven cold dilute acid (by some hours’ con- 
tact) will isolate the red chloride; boiling acid does so at 
once. 
Color, beautiful purple. A specimen analyzed was found to 
consist of normal chloride combived with 3-11 per cent. of sub- 
chloride. 
