??2 ESSAYS AND OBSERVATIONS 



Quick LIME itfelf is alfo rendered mild 

 by imgnefia., if thefe two are well rubbed 

 together ^nd infufed with a fmall quantity of 

 water. 



By the following experiments, I propofed 

 to know whether this fubftance could be re-> 

 duced to a quick-lime. 



An ounce of magnefia was expofed in a 

 crucible for about an hour to fuch a heat as 

 is fufficient to melt copper. When taken 

 put, it weighed three drams and one fcruple, 

 Pfhad loft yV of its former weight. 



\ repeated, with the magnefia prepared in 

 this manner^ moft of thofe experiments 

 I had already made upon it before calcina- 

 tion, and the refult was as follows. 



It difTolves in all th§ acids, and with thefe 

 compofes falts exaflly fimilar to thofe de- 

 fcribed in the firft fet of experiments : but 

 what is particularly to be remarked, it is dif- 

 folved without any thp leaft degree of effer- 

 vefcence. 



It flowly precipitates the corrofive fub- 

 limate of mercury in the form of a black 

 powder. 



It feparates the volatile alkali in fait am- 

 moniac from the acid, when it is mixed 



