15 Mr. W. H. Balmain OH Bthogm. By w. H. BALMAIN ESq. LXXXVII. Additional Observations on A3thogen. ON proceeding to make some quantitative experiments on aethogen Iatound that through depending too much upon simple change of property I had been misled upon some points; and I take this the earliest opportunity of pointing out in what respects my conclusions were erroneous. All the compounds described as aethonides are one and the same substance a new compound of boron and nitrogen pro- bably formed by the decomposition of the zthonide of the metal by the nitro-niuriatic acid used at the end of the pro- cess. I t would appear that there are two compounds of boron and nitrogen; one which is not altered by exposure to a white heat is deconiposed by the action of water at ordinary temperatures and also by the action of nitric acid and which does not phosphoresce before the blowpipe; and a second which is not decomposed by any reagents with the exception of water and oxygen at a high temperature and which phos- phoresces beautitully before the blowpipe; The first is formed when mellon and boracic acid are heated together and combines with the metals; the second whenever a com- pound of the first with a metal is decomposed by abstraction ofthe metal which is effected with such difficulty that the traces left induced me to suppose tbat it was an essential ele- ment of the compound.Whether or not these two com- pounds are isomeric remains yet to be ascertained. The simplest method of preparing the phosphorescent com- pound is to heat together 12 parts of cyanide of mercury of boracic acid and 1 of sulphur.The compound of phosphorus and nitrogen (discovered by Rose) probably has similar relations and may perhaps be studied to advantage in connexion with the above; an easy method of preparing it is to place some chloro-amidide of mercury in a flask and add from time to time a portion of phosphorus keeping up a gentle heat all the time and agi- 16 tating now and then; and when the phosphorus ceases to pro- duce any decompositiou raise the temperature nearly to red- ness. Mr. J. Napier on the Solubility of the Mr. W. H. Balmain OH Bthogm. 15 LXXXVII. Additional Observations on A3thogen. ON proceeding to make some quantitative experiments on aethogen Iatound that through depending too much upon simple change of property I had been misled upon some points; and I take this the earliest opportunity of pointing out in what respects my conclusions were erroneous.All the compounds described as aethonides are one and the same substance a new compound of boron and nitrogen pro-bably formed by the decomposition of the zthonide of the metal by the nitro-niuriatic acid used at the end of the pro-cess. I t would appear that there are two compounds of boron and nitrogen; one which is not altered by exposure to a white heat is deconiposed by the action of water at ordinary temperatures and also by the action of nitric acid and which does not phosphoresce before the blowpipe; and a second, which is not decomposed by any reagents with the exception of water and oxygen at a high temperature and which phos-phoresces beautitully before the blowpipe; The first is formed when mellon and boracic acid are heated together and combines with the metals; the second whenever a com-pound of the first with a metal is decomposed by abstraction ofthe metal which is effected with such difficulty that the traces left induced me to suppose tbat it was an essential ele-ment of the compound.Whether or not these two com-pounds are isomeric remains yet to be ascertained. The simplest method of preparing the phosphorescent com-pound is to heat together 12 parts of cyanide of mercury, of boracic acid and 1 of sulphur. The compound of phosphorus and nitrogen (discovered by Rose) probably has similar relations and may perhaps be studied to advantage in connexion with the above; an easy method of preparing it is to place some chloro-amidide of mercury in a flask and add from time to time a portion of phosphorus keeping up a gentle heat all the time and agi-By w. H. BALMAIN ESq 16 Mr. J. Napier on the Solubility of the tating now and then; and when the phosphorus ceases to pro-duce any decompositiou raise the temperature nearly to red-ness