154 ON MURIATE OF TIN. 



tromuifattc containing from a sixth to a tenth of the latter. They all 

 acid oa tin. acted on tin with extreme heat and violence, and the con- 

 tents of the vessel were thrown out with violence. One 

 part of nitric acid, or aqua fortis of the shops, «t 35° of 

 Baume's areometer, and 12 parts of common muriatic 

 acid at 20°, form a mixture well adapted to the solution of 

 tin, which it effects very well, and in little time. This mix- 

 ture takes up about a third its weight of tin, and the solu- 

 tion is carried to 45°. 



Tin exposed J attempted to combine the alternate action of muriatic 



alternately to . 



muriatic acid acid and atmospheric air on tin, divided into small grains, 

 and atmosphe- f or the purpose of dissolving it, and with complete success. 

 With this view I filled a large wide mouthed glass bottle 

 with finely granulated tin, covered the metal with muriatic 

 acid at 20% left this to act on it for a few hours, and then 

 poured off the acid into another vessel ; when it was found 

 to have risen to 26°. The tin soon began to grow black 

 from the contact of the atmosphere, absorbed oxigen from 

 it, and caloric was evolved, rendering the metal very hot. 

 A lighted candle put into the bottle was quickly extin- 

 guished. As soon as the bottle began to. grow cool, I re- 

 turned the acid into it, which acted with fresh force, and in 

 a little time got to 35°. I poured it off again, to let the 

 air act on the tin, and then returned it into the bottle afresh. 

 Thus I continued proceeding alternately, till all action 

 ceased. At the end of two days the solution had attained 

 the strength, of 45°. Indeed one day was sufficient for this, 

 if a series of bottles supplied with tin were employed, so 

 that the acid might be acting on the tin in some, while the 

 air was acting on that in others; and by this continual 

 action the strength might be carried even to 50°. 

 Sorption of The muriatic solution of tin, when fresh made, combines 



teadiTv^bsorbs P rett y readily w ith the oxigen of the atmosphere, as Pel- 

 oxigen from letier, Guyton Mcrveau, and other celebrated chemists 

 have observed. It is sufficient to invert a jar, rilled with at- 

 mospheric acid, over a dish or widemouthed bo/ttle filled with 

 this solution, when the solution will continue to rise in the 

 jar, till the whole of the oxigen is absorbed. The absorp- 

 tion is more rapid if the jar be filled with pure oxigen gas; 

 and ntavly the whole of the gas will be taken up in a 

 «hort time. To facilitate the combination of oxigen gas 



/ with 



the a'u; 



