414 Dr. Thomas Thomson and Dr. SteeVs [Junk 



An analysis of the crystals offered very unsatisfactory 

 results, from the impossibility of drying them. 10 grs. 

 lost, when ignited, 6*56 grs. 5*5 grs. of yttria were dis- 

 solved in pure nitric acid, and heated until the whole fused 

 into a transparent glass. The weight had increased to 12*4 

 grs. It was again heated till the glass began to get opaque, 

 it now weighed 11-72 grs. But a considerable portion of 

 it was insoluble in water, evidently shewing that some of 

 the acid had been driven off v If the salt was neutral, (as 

 must have been the case,) the first experiment leads to the 

 conclusion that its constituents are, 



Yttria . . . 5*5 or 1 atom. 



Nitric acid . 6*5 ,, 1 atom. 



Water . . . 225,, 2 atoms. 



14-25 



5. Muriate of yttria. — Muriatic acid dissolves yttria very 

 readily. The solution, when carefully evaporated, crystal- 

 lizes in large right prisms, with two opposite angles, trun- 

 cated so as to constitute six-sided prisms. The taste is 

 sweet and astringent. The crystals are very deliquescent. 

 When heated the salt undergoes the watery fusion, and is 

 decomposed at a red heat. 



Its analysis did not afford very satisfactory results, as, 

 from its easy decomposition and rapid deliquescence, it is 

 exceedingly difficult to free the crystals from the mother 

 liquor. 



10 grs. of the crystals lost, when dried on the sand-bath, 

 2*37 grs. The residue did not dissolve completely in water, 

 indicating that some of the acid had been driven off. The 

 yttria, precipitated by ammonia, weighed 4-08 grs., and the 

 residual solution, after being neutralized by nitric acid, 

 gave 11*59 grs. of fused chloride of silver = 2*93 grs. of 

 muriatic acid. This gives the constitution of the salt, 

 Yttria . . . 4*08 or 5*5 

 Muriatic acid . 2-93 „ 3*94 

 Water . . . 2-37 „ 3-1 



In another analysis, 15*65 grs. of the crystals dissolved 

 in water, gave 19*881 grs. of chloride of silver, = 5*04 

 grs. acid; and by ammonia, 5*21 grs. of yttria. This 

 gives us : — 



