of Anhydrous Liquefied Ammonia. 



147 



caused strong chemical action, sparks and flashes of light, the formation 

 of a colourless salt, and prevented the blue colour, and finally produced a 

 violent detonation, by which the whole of the tube was shattered to small 

 particles. Anhydrous carbonate of sodium caused the blue colour first 

 produced to gradually disappear ; the residue was quite colourless, and 

 entirely soluble in water. Anhydrous formiate of soda produced similar 

 effects. Crystals of oxalate of ammonia produced chemical action, de- 

 stroyed the blue colour first produced, and left a colourless residue which 

 contained no free carbon. Sesquioxide of chromium did not prevent the 

 blue colour, nor show any signs of reduction or other chemical change. 

 Sesquioxide of uranium prevented the permanency of the blue colour. 



I have not specially classified the results of these experiments, but may 

 remark that the only elementary substances soluble in anhydrous am- 

 monia are the alkali metals proper, also iodine (bromine was not tried), 

 sulphur, and phosphorus. The more co mm only soluble inorganic salts 

 are nitrates, chlorides, bromides, and iodides ; whilst oxides, fluorides, 

 carbonates, sulphides, and sulphates were very generally insoluble. Many 

 saline substances, especially certain chlorides, bromides, iodides, and 

 sulphates, absorbed ammonia copiously, and swelled greatly, but did not 

 dissolve. The behaviour of the chlorides of mercury was peculiar. 



In many of these experiments chemical changes took place, and new 

 products were formed ; but I did not analyze those products, because that 

 was not my object : these chemical reactions offer a field for future 

 investigators. The sulphides of antimony and cadmium, and the sulphates 

 of mercury and manganese, imparted a purple tint to the liquid ; sulphur 

 behaved similarly. 



