Mr GRAHAM'S Account of the Formation of Alcoates. 187 



This gives 9.84 alcohol to 3.56 nitrate of magnesia. But the 

 atomic weight of anhydrous nitrate of magnesia is 9.25. Now, 



3.56 : 9.84 : : 9.25 : 25.57. 



In another case, 16 grains alcoate were reduced to 4.2 grains. 

 This gives 11.8 grains alcohol to 4.2 grains nitrate of magnesia. 



4.2 : 11.8 : : 9.25 : 25.99- 



On the supposition that this alcoate consists of one atom ni- 

 trate of magnesia united with nine atoms alcohol, the alcohol 

 should amount to 25.875, a number intermediate between the 

 two results. This alcoate will be thus represented : 



One atom nitrate of magnesia, . 9.25 

 Nine atoms alcohol, . . . 'V. 25.875 



35.125 



3. Alcoate of the Nitrate of Lime. 



Nitrate of lime may be obtained anhydrous with much greater 

 facility than nitrate of magnesia, as, after being dried on the 

 sand-bath, it may be heated in a glass-capsule by the spirit-lamp 

 without decomposition, although it partially fuses. Boiling al- 

 cohol saturated with this salt formed a solution, which became 

 very viscid on cooling, and remained without crystallizing for a 

 whole day. But during a frosty night it was resolved into an 

 amorphous solid, slightly moist, but without any appearance of 

 crystallization. This substance was carefully dried in the usual 

 way. 



