ihe Laws of Affinity, 351 



\ 1th, Notwithstanding his general observations, Bergman 

 mistook the effects of solubility iu several cases : thus, he did 

 not think that the nitric and muriatic acids had an action on 

 the combination of the phosphat of lime, though the only 

 difference that can be established in this respect between these 

 two acids and the sulphuric acid, the comparative force of 

 their affinities not being known, is, that the two former form 

 only soluble combinations, while that produced by the sul- 

 phuric acid may be withdrawn, in a great measure, by the 

 force of crystallization. 



12th, It is the solubility of the lime as well as of the ba-^ 

 rytes, increased by the action of the acid on these earths, 

 which causes ammonia not to produce any precipitate in 

 the solution of the salts of which they are the base. The 

 first portion of the ammonia, however, mixed, for example, 

 with the muriat of lime, scarcely suffers any odour to be ex- 

 haled ; which indicates that it has entered into combination, 

 and that its action may be rendered sensible, as shall be here 

 shown, 



I mixed ammonia with a solution of the muriat of lime, 

 and I caused the liquor to evaporate in a retort : when it was 

 reduced to a certain point, there was formed a pretty consi- 

 derable precipitate. I continued the operation, at the end 

 of which the quantity of the precipitate Was very much di- 

 minished; there was formed a pellicle; and by cooling, a 

 large quantity of crystals in pretty long needles. It was a 

 triple salt, from which the ammonia could be disengaged by 

 lime. This salt, when redissolved, and evaporated in the 

 open air, gave no more indications of ammonia in the proof 

 by lime. 



It is seen, then, that, when the water has not been too 

 abundant, the ammonia precipitated a part of the lime, 

 though it was rendered much more soluble by the acid, and 

 though the action of the ammonia was considerably weakened 

 by the heat, which diminished its affinity and its quantity. 

 In proportion as the latter was reduced, the precipitate was 

 re- dissolved : there however still remained ammonia after a 

 long evaporation, and it was only by the help of the action 

 of the air that it vyas entirely dissipated, The separation of 



the 



