5l8 AnaJ^u of the Melliie, oir Mortigjlein. 



Finding that this method would fucceed for feparating the whole of this acid from the 

 pot-afli, I flightly heated the whole of the fluid, and added nitric acid till there was an 

 excefs perceptible to the tafte. I then filtered to feparate the brown flocculent matter, and 

 obtain the acid in a ftate of greater purity; and in effefl: I obtained about 1.34 grammes, 

 which was white enough, though ftill of a yellow tinge. The following are the properties 

 which prefented themfelves on its mixture with different fubftances. 



1. This acid has brilliant facets, confiderable hardnefs, flight acid tafte, accompanied 

 with bitternefs, which may arife from fome portions of bitumen ftiil attached to it, and to 

 which it owes its yellow colour. 



2. A portion of this acid expofed to the flame of the blow pipe, gave at firft a few fcin- 

 tillations lifce thofe of falt-petre ; after which it fwelled up, and left a fubftance that foon 

 penetrated the charcoal. 



3. When heated in a covered crucible of platina it fwelled up at firft, afterwards became 

 charred, without affording an oily flame, and left a light coal which is very alkaline *. This 

 acid was therefore combined with a certain quantity of thepot-afli, notwithftandirig the 

 excefs of nitric acid which had been added to its folution. The fame efteft alfo takes place 

 with the tartareous and oxalic acids, which by fimilar treatment are made to pafs to the 

 (late of acidules. 



4. This acid is fparingly foluble i but I have not exaiStly determined the quantity of 

 wafer which it requires. 



5. Several grammes of the fame acid, diflblved in water, were mixed, i. with a folution 

 . of lime: in which a white flocculent precipitate was immediately formed, that foon fell to 



the bottom of the fluid. 2. With a folution of fulphate of lime, in which' a light granu- 

 lated and cryftallized precipitate was found, that left the water ftill in a certain degree 

 tranfparent ; but which was increafed and rendered flocculent by the addition of one drop 

 of ammonia f, 3. With the folution of muriate of barytes it affords little precipitate the 

 firft moment, but foon afterwards a fhower of cryftals in needles. 4. With the folution 

 of filver it gives a white filky precipitate, which (hines like a folution of foap : and fome- 

 time afterwards it fubfides in the form of powder. 5. With the nitric folution of lead it 

 affords a white pulverulent very heavy precipitate. 6. With that of mercury a white pre- 

 cipitate, which a fingle dop of ammonia turns black. 



• This acid muft not be confounded with the acidulous tai'trite of pot-afli by this property. For the 

 latter fwells up much more, and emits at the time of its decorapofition a denfe fume, of a peculiar and 

 very diftinguifliable odor. 



+ The. acidulous tartrite of pot-afli does not immediately produce a preciphate in the folution of ful- 

 phate of lime ; but twenty-four hours afterwards there is found in the mixture dryltals with very brilliant 

 facets, compofed of lime and tartareous acid. Though ci7ftalliied, this tartrite cf lime does not refemble 

 the combination ^formed with the acid of honigftein, and the fame bafe. It differs from it in fwelling up 

 in the fire, whereas th;)t is decompofed without fwelling, in which refpeft it has analogy with the oxalate 

 of lime. 



From 



