[ 48 l ]

the liquor immediately became turbid, and a dusky co-loured matter soon precipitated. The precipitate was notredissolved on the affusion of water ; nor was the preci-pitation prevented by adding water immediately after theacid had been dropt in.

V. Solution of platina, with volatile alcali.

The spirits of sal ammoniac, prepared both by quick-lime and by fixt alcaline salts, added to solutions of platinadiluted with water, precipitated a dark red sparkling pow-der: but in whatever quantity the spirits were added, theprecipitation was not total, a considerable part of the pla-tina remaining dissolved so as to communicate a highyellow colour to the liquor. The red precipitate, dried,and exposed to the fire in an iron ladle, became blackish,without discovering any thing os the fulminating powerwhich precipitates of gold, prepared in the same manner,have in a remarkable degree. On washing some of theprecipitate upon a filter, with repeated additions of water,greatest part of it dissolved, only a small quantity ofblackish matter remaining on the paper, and the liquorpassing through of a deep bright golden colour: a verylarge quantity of water was tinged of this colour by asmall one of the powder.

VI. Solution of platina, with vegetable fxt alcali.

Salt of tartar, salt of wormwood, fixt nitre, and thelixivium saponarium of the London pharmacopœia, hadthe same effect on solution of platina as the volatile spiritsin the foregoing article, except that the precipitates wereof a much duller reddish colour, and less brilliant. Theprecipitation was equally imperfect; the liquor still con-tinuing of a deep yellow colour, and greatest part of theprecipitate being redissolved on the addition of water..

In.