SOLUBILITY or EARTHS BY MEA^S Of SUGAtl. 13 



From the result of this experiment beinp^ so very difFer(?nt Theexperi- 

 , i. • ,• 1 • T 1 "lent repeated, 



from those preceam$]^ it on \ni\e and strontites, 1 supposed, 



that some change had taken placie either in the sugar or ba- 

 rytes ; the experiment was therefore repeated several times, 

 but always with the same result. The barytic eartli, which The barytes 

 was left on the filtering p»per, was put into dilute nitric acid, k^/" '^,j^j*^* 

 and a violent disengagement of carbonic acid gas took place, 

 iiltho'igh the whole of this gas was apparently expelled be-r- 

 fore the eartli was introduced into the saccharine solution. 

 The same portion of earth was treated in the same manner Repeated with 

 thrice, and on expelling the carbonic acid and introducing 

 it into the saccharine liquor, the specitic gravity was not ^. 



farther increased; the liquid always assumed the greenish 

 appearance before noticed, and when in this state carbonated 

 hidrogen gas was evidently disengaged, and a bldck floccu- 

 lent matter always subsided before the liquid became trans- 

 parent. 



From these appearances one would be almost ready to Probably the 

 conclude, " That barytes, by its superior affinity with the pog^^jj^J^^jj-^^gJ 

 *' carbon of the sugar, is capable of decomposing it ; that by its affinity 

 " part of the carbon, in union with the baiytes, is precipi- 

 '1**tated along with the earth in its carbonated state; and 

 *^ that the oxigen of the sugar, being set at liberty, unites 

 " with the hidrogen and another portion of the carbon, and 

 *' is disengaged in the state of carbonated hidi-bgen gas.** 

 But as I cannot say, that the earth and the nitric acid were 

 in a state of absolute purity, on this account I dare not trust 

 entirely to this explanation, and only state what took place 

 during the course of making these experiments. ^ 



I next tried the power of the solution of sugar on mag- Magnesia very 

 nesia. One half ounce of this earth calcined was added tO J'ttle soluble ia 

 the saccharine solution in the cold state, without the specific 

 gravity being perceptibly increased ; the mixture was then 

 boiled, when on filtering and cooling the liquid to 50 degrees, 

 the specific gravity was - 



Solution of sugar 1040.000 



Magnesia in solution • • 3.050 



1043.050 



The 



