[snell] analysis of MAPLE PRODUCTS 171 



The Relation of the Conductivity Value to the Ash Data 



Since the salt components of maple syrup are undoubtedly re- 

 sponsible for the electrical conductivity, relations between the con- 

 ductivity value and the ash data are worthy of investigation. From 

 the investigations of Hortvet,* Jones f and Bryan % it is clear that maple 

 syrup ash consists largely (viz., to the extent of about 85 per cent.) 

 of the carbonates of calcium and potassium, the two metals being 

 present in about chemically equivalent quantities. The three investi- 

 gators are in close agreement as regards the lime content, which is in 

 the neighbourhood of 22 per cent. Bryan finds an average of 38 per 

 cent, of potash in 100 syrups, Jones one of nearly 35 per cent, in 6 

 syrups, two of which were composites of a number of samples, while 

 Hortvet finds about 31 per cent, in each of two syrup ashes. Hortvet 

 alone has determined carbonic acid. His results show an average of 

 about 30 per cent, in the two samples. The proportions of these three 

 constituents of the ash may accordingly be placed at the following 

 figures as a rough estimate: 



Per cent. Molecules. 



KjO 35 -371 sum 



CaO 22 -39/ -76 



CO2 30 -68 



Sum 87 



These results indicate that organic salts of potassium and calcium 

 are the chief electrolytes of the syrup.* Potassium, having a higher 

 ionic conductivity than calcium, may be expected to contribute a little 

 more than an equal share to the conducting power of the syrup. But 

 its preponderance is not such as to justify a confident prediction that 

 the conductivity value will be more closely related to the soluble ash 

 (consisting mainly of potassium carbonate) or its alkalinity than to 

 the total ash or its alkalinity. 



I have, therefore, made calculations of the ratios of several of the 

 data of Tables III and IV and present these ratios in Tables VI and VIL 



Considered by themselves the ratios of Table VI would indicate 

 that the closer relationships are those between on the one hand con- 

 ductivity and weight of the total ash and on the other hand conductivity 

 and alkalinity of soluble ash. It is to be remembered, however, that 

 these syrups were all from the one bush, and were man^ifactured on a 



*Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc. 26, p. 1541 (1904). 

 t Vermont Agr. Expt. Sta. 18th Annual Report p. 331 (1905). 

 J Bureau of Chemistry, U. S. Dept., Agr. Bulletin 134 (1910). 

 * Magnesium and sodium salts are present in minor proportions. 



