296 
DR. KANE ON THE CHEMICAL HISTORY 
The rational formula of this salt is, therefore, N 0 5 . N H 4 O + Pd . N H 2 , and it 
is completely analogous in constitution to the corresponding ammoniacal nitrate of 
copper. 
B. If the quantity of ammonia added to the solution of nitrate of palladium be not 
sufficient to redissolve all of the brown basic nitrate which is first formed, a deep 
yellow liquor is produced, which deposits on standing, or by moderate concentration, 
small yellow crystals, whose form appears to be rhombic-octohedral. When heated, 
these crystals deflagrate, producing water and nitrogen gas with copious fumes of 
nitrous acid, and some clouds of nitrate of ammonia. The residue after ignition is 
metallic palladium. 
The analysis of this body was conducted as follows : — 
I. 6-065 grains were ignited in a tube of Bohemian glass, and the volatile products 
having been conducted over red-hot metallic copper to decompose any red fumes, 
were passed through a tube containing chloride of calcium, which collected water 
amounting to 1*219 grains, or 2010 per cent., corresponding to 2*23 of hydrogen in 
100 - 00 . 
The tube being cut the residual palladium was found to weigh 2-623 grains, or 
43'6 per cent. 
II. 5 016 grains ignited in a platinum crucible gave 2-285, or 45-54 per cent, of 
metal. 
III. 5-571 grains gave when treated exactly in the manner described in the pre- 
ceding salt, nitrogen gas, which after correction measured 4-211 cubic inches, weighing 
1-355 grain, or 24-10 per cent. The decomposition did not appear to proceed so 
regularly, nor to give so pure gas as in other cases. 
From these experiments this compound appears to contain in 100 parts. 
Palladium ..... 43-60 45-54 
Nitrogen 24-10 
Hydrogen 2‘23 
Oxygen (by loss) . . . 30 07 
100-00 
The formula to which these numbers lead is very anomalous. It is N0 5 -\- Pd . NH 2 , 
which gives 
One atom palladium . 
. 53-3 
43-23 
Two atoms nitrogen . 
. 28-0 
22-71 
Two atoms hydrogen . 
20 
1-62 
Five atoms oxygen . . 
. 40-0 
32-44 
123-3 
100-00 
If this formula were perfectly established it would constitute the first example of 
a direct combination of a metallic amidide with an acid. The only other supposition 
at all possible is, that it may contain the elements of an atom of water; the formula 
