the Carinthian Molybdate of Lead. 315 
of water first came over ; this was succeeded by a considerable 
quantity of alkaline gas, which continued to be produced 
during 15 or 20 minutes. On a sudden the vessels were filled 
with a thick white cloud, which upon close inspection ap- 
peared to be composed of very minute glittering crystals. This 
cloud quickly disappeared, and was followed by a great quan- 
tity of sulphureous gas and water, the greatest part of which 
was condensed in the receiver; and the operation went on in 
this manner while any thing remained in the retort. 
During the distillation, the matter in the retort was always 
liquid ; and when the operation was finished, I found in the 
receiver a considerable quantity of sulphureous acid, with some 
ammoniac in solution ; and in the neck of the retort there 
was sublimed a portion of the undecomposed salt. 
From this experiment I was in a great measure convinced, 
not only that the neutral salt was decomposed, but that the 
ammoniac was also in part resolved into its constituent prin- 
ciples. ^ 
EXPERIMENT II. 
That I might, however, remove any doubt respecting this 
matter, I fitted a bent glass adopter to a retort, and to this 
added a double tubulated receiver, from which proceeded a 
bent tube, which passed under a glass jar filled with water 
and inverted. 
The former experiment was now repeated with this appa- 
ratus ; and I had the satisfaction to observe, that when the 
sulphureous acid began to be produced, a quantity of gas at 
the same time displaced the water in the jar, and continued to 
pass into it to the end of the operation. 
