EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



309 



cases fornmla B gives the largest amount. These variations are not large 

 however, and are probably due to variations in the steam condensation. 



AN EXPERIMENT TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF MAGNESIUM OXIDE. 



From the results of the above experiment we are led to believe that the 

 harmful effect of the magnesium oxide in the lime was due, not so much, 

 to a deleterious effect, (the liberation of sulfur as hydrogen sulfide for 

 instance) as it was to the fact that its presence reduces the quantity of 

 calcium oxide. 



If magnesium oxide could unite with sulfur in the same way that cal- 

 cium oxide does, then its presence would not be harmful but Gibboney* 

 has stated that there is practically no reaction between the two materials 

 when boiled together. 



In carrying out this experiment three brands of lime were used, show- 

 ing the following composition : 



From each of the first two sami)les of lime, two lots of lime-sulfur 

 were made up, the first according to the formula 100 grams lime, 200 

 grams sulfur and 800 grams water, this being the same proportion as the 

 50-100-50 formula, used in the previous experiment. In the second lot 

 in each case, the amount of lime was increased so that there w^as half as 

 much calcium oxide as sulfur, the water remaining the same. From the 

 third sample of lime, only one lot was made and in this, the ratio of 

 lime to sulfur was as one to two. Each lot was boiled for one hour in a 

 flask fitted with a condenser so that all the steam was condensed and re- 

 turned to the flask, thus keeping the volume of the solution constant. The 

 solutions were filtered while hot, allowed to cool and then analyzed. 



' Virginia S 



t Commission. Circular No. 1, New Series. 



