Baryttc Combinations,'— Conclujim*- H25 



Barytes and Oil. 



Experiment i^. It Fs known that when a folution of barytes or ftrontian is poured into a folu- 

 tfon of common foap, a very abundant depofition is formed, which is a combination of the 

 earth with the oil of the foap, while the alkali remains pure and cauftic in the fluid. Inorde* 

 to afcertain whether thefe earths could unite direflly with oil, I boiled a folution of barytes, 

 made with heat, together with oil olive ; the oil foon became confiftent, the water loft its alka- 

 line tafte, and the new combination exhibited the tafte and (mell of a true foap, from which it 

 differed merely in its want of folubility in water. 



Birrytcs and Animal Matnr. 



Experiment $, I was defirous of knowing whether barytes would z&. upon animal matters, im 

 the fame manner as the alkalies, which laft are known to decompofe them, and form a kind of 

 foap, while ammoniac is difengaged. I therefore mixed twenty drams of.bullocks' liver pounded" 

 with ten drams of barytes difFufed in water, and boiled the whole in a retort, to which a re- 

 ceiver was applied. In a very (hort time, I obtained a large quantity of ammoniac, and the- 

 animal fubftance was converted into a fort of clotted magma of a rofe colour, infoluble in. 

 water, and which, by, fereral experiments, lafcertained to be a combination of fatty matter and- 

 barytes. It is, therefore, proved that the alkaline earths exert the lame aSion as the alkalie* 

 upon animal matters, though with a flight difference in the refult. 



Conclufton. 



It is evident from the preceding fafts, i. That ftrontian and barytes poflefs nearly the fame- 

 habitudes as the alkalies, with regard to filex and alumine, like which fubftances they com- 

 bine with the earths, and divide them in fuch manner, as to render them afterwards foluble in 

 the weakeft acids. 2. That they may be ufed like the alkalies, in the analyfis of hard ftones,. 

 which are not attacked by acids ; a property which maybe advantageoufly applied in fuch cafes 

 as do not allow the exhibition of alkalies. 3. That it is neceflary to be careful in decoiipofing 

 riie nitrates of barytes and ftrontian in crucibles of earth, in order to obtain thofe bafesin a 

 ftateof purity, not to apply too ftrong a heat, for fear they ftiould combine with filex and- 

 alumine. 4. That it was^ no doubt, owing to combination with the earth of' the crucibles, 

 that barytes was formerly obtained in the ftate of a frit infoluble in water, and that the 

 powder of charcoal, at prefent ufed in expellrng the carbonic acid^ has no other effeft than : 

 that of removing the earth from the conta(£l of the crucible. 5. That barytes and fthjntran^ 

 ought henceforth to be feparated from the clafs of earths, andinfertedinthat of alkalies, with- 

 which they have many more properties in common. Thi» has already been done by Citizen; 

 Fourcroy, in his new work. 6. That it is very probable, we fliall hereafter &id combina-. 

 tjons ai barytes and ftrontian with filex, and perhaps with alumin?. 



€itKerniag[ 



