Prep. Made by dissolving half an ounce of carbonate of ammonia in eight fluid ounces of water, and subsequently adding sufficient water to make up the bulk of the solution to ten fluid ounces.

Use. Used in testing the carbonate and oxide of zinc. These substances, dissolved in water by the aid of a little nitric acid, give a white precipitate (carbonate of zinc) with the solution of carbonate of ammonia, which is entirely soluble without colour in excess of the reagent. This test serves to distinguish zinc from alumina and the alkaline earths, including magnesia, etc.