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Muriate of Ammonia

Also called sal-ammoniac and hydrochlorate of ammonia. This substance was formerly prepared in Egypt by the sublimation of the soot from camels' dung, which yields from to its weight. The sal-ammoniac of commerce is now wholly prepared at the great chemical works, and never by the small consumer, by whom it is merely occasionally refined or. purified. The crude ammoniacal salt of the gas-works is placed in iron pots, lined with clay, and a leaden dome or head adapted, and adding all the acid at once. When dissolved, heat applied until the whole has sublimed. transfer to a bolt-head, and digest in a water- When the crude salt is a sulphate, it is mixed bath until the solution precipitates salts of with a sufficient quantity of muriate of soda protoxide of iron of a slate color. Neutral- before sublimation, and the sal-ammoniac is ize, when cold, with a cold solution of car- formed by the double decomposition of the bonate of soda; then boil, and separate the ingredients. The preparation of sal-ammoprecipitate by filtration. Evaporate the liquid niac from bone-spirit salt is nearly similar. again, filter, and allow the nitrates of potash The sal-ammoniac of commerce is found under and soda to crystallize out. Evaporate the the form of large hemispherical, cup-like cakes liquid again, and remove the prismatic crys- or masses, having a semi-crystalline texture, tals of nitro-prusside as they form. They and varying in weight from 100 to 1000 may be dissolved in water and recrystallized pounds. It forms a clear and colorless soluby cooling. tion with water, and wholly volatilizes by