1835.] on Racemic Acid, 103 



But 86-78 grs. of carbonate of potash contain 59*49 grs. of 

 potash. Consequently, racemate of potash is composed of 

 Racemic acid . . . 81*544 or 8*224 

 Potash 59-492 „ 6* 



141*036 

 The only source of uncertainty in this experiment is the 

 quantity of bi-racemate of potash, which I supposed to be 

 dissolved in the IJ cubic inch of liquid from which the 

 bi-racemate had fallen. I estimated it at 1*6 gr., reckoning 

 its solubility in water containing racemate of potash, two- 

 thirds of that in pure water. The quantity of salt in solu- 

 tion was only the third part of what it is capable of taking 

 up ; but this portion of salt may have diminished the solu- 

 bility more than I supposed. If so, I have under-rated the 

 quantity of racemic acid requisite to saturate the potash. 



6. I am inclined to believe that the atomic weight is a 

 little higher than I made it ; because Berzelius has found 

 the constituents, and, of course, the composition of racemic 

 acid the same as of tartaric acid. Now, it has been ascer- 

 tained that the constituents of tartaric acid are, 



4 atoms carbon ... 3* 



2 ,, hydrogen . . 0*25 



5 „ oxygen . . 5* 



8*25 

 This makes the atomic weight of both these acids 8*25. 

 My result comes within less than -j^oth of that number. 

 There cannot then, I think, be any reason to doubt that 

 the atom of racemic acid is 8*25, and that its crystals are 

 composed of 1 atom acid . . . 8*25 



2 atoms water . . 2*25 



10*5 

 So that the atomic weight of the crystals is 10*5 



Let us now take a view of the different salts which race- 

 mic acid forms with the bases, and compare them with the 

 corresponding tartrates. 



I. RACEMATE OF AMMONIA. 



The best way to form this salt is to add a solution of 

 racemic acid to the liquid carbonate of ammonia, till H 



