The nitrate of ammonia possesses the property of exploding, and being totally decomposed, at the temperature of 600°: whence it acquired the name of nitrom flammans. The readiest mode of prepar ing it is, by adding carbonate of ammonia to dilute nitric acid till saturation takes place. If this solution be evaporated in a heat between 70. and 100°, and the eva poration not carried too far, it crystalli zes in hexaMral prisms terminating in very acute pyramids ; if the beat rise to 212°, it will afford, on cooling, long fibrous silky crystals: if the evaporation be car ried so far as fir the salt. to concrete im mediately on a glass rod by cooling, it will them a compact mass. According to Mr. Davy, these differ but little from each other, except in the water they contain, their component parts being as follows : All these are completely deliquescent, but they differ a little in solubility. Al. collo' at 176° dissolves nearly 90.9 of its own weight.
The chief use of this salt is for afford ing nitrous oxide on being decomposed by heat. See nitrous oxide, under the art. GAS.
Nitrate of Magnesia, magnesian nitre, crystallizes in four-sided rhomboidal prisms, with oblique or truncated sum. mits, and sometimes in bundles of small needles. Its taste is bitter, and very si milar to that of nitrate of lime, but less pungent. It is fusible, and decomposa ble by heat, giving out first a little oxygen gas, then nitrous oxide, and lastly nitric acid. It deliquesces slowly. It is solo ble in an equal weight of cold water, and in but little more hot, so that it is scarce ly crystallizable but by spontaneous eva poration.
The two preceding species are capable of combining into a triple salt, an ammo niaco.magnesian nitrate, either by uniting the two in solution, or by a partial de composition of either by means of the base of the other. This is slightly inflam mable when suddenly heated : and by a lower beat is decomposed, giving out oxy gen, azote, more water than it contained, nitrous oxide, and nitric acid. The resi
duum is pure magnesia. It is disposed to attract moisture from the air, but much less deliquescent than either of the salts that` compose it ; and requires ele ven parts of water at 60° to dissolve it. Boiling water takes up more, so that it will crystallize by cooling. It consists of 78 parts of nitrate of magnesia and 22 of nitrate of ammonia.
From the activity of the nitric acid as a solvent of earths in analyzation, the ni trate of glucine is better known than any other of the salts of this new earth. Its form is either pulverulent, or a tenacious or ductile mass.' Its taste is at first sac charine, and afterward astringent. It grows soft by exposure to heat, soon melts, its acid is decomposed into oxygen and azote, and its base alone is left be hind. It is very soluble and very deli. quescent.
Nitrate, or rather supernitrate, of alit mine, crystallizes, though with difficulty, in thin, soft, pliable flakes. It is of an austere and acid taste, and reddens blue vegetable colours. It may be formed by dissolving in diluted nitric acid, with the assistance of heat, fresh precipitated alit mine, well washed but not dried. It it deliquescent, and soluble in a very small portion of water. Alcohol dissolves its own weight. It is easily decomposed by heat.
Nitrate of zircone was first discovered by Klaproth, and has since been examin ed by Guyton-Morveau and Vauquelin. Its crystals are small, capillary, silky, needles. Its taste is astringent. It is easi ly decomposed by fire, very soluble in wa ter, and deliquescent. It may be pre pared by dissolving zircone in strong nitric acid ; but, like the preceding spe cies, the acid is always in excess.
Nitrate of ittria may be prepared in a similar manner. \Its taste is sweetish, and astringent. It is scarcely to be ob tained in crystals ; and if it be evaporat ed by too strong a heat, the salt becomes soft like honey, and on cooling concretes into a stony mass. Exposed to the air it deliquesces.