360 



by carbonate of lime and magnesia or, in other words, by the 

 divalent and not by the monovalent bases. This contention 

 can be tested by computation from the experimental data given 

 in the table. 



If the reversible process is represented by: 



the theory of chemical mass-action demands : 



X 



II 

 where a is the equivalent weight of H^CO.^ and 1 of RCO.^ 



whereas x is the quantity of bicarbonate formed, a — x is 



consequently the equivalent weight of carbonic acid remaining 



free, and, if we substitute the gas-volumes for the equivalent 



weights, we have : 



Tension X Coefficient of absorption 



(/ — X 



d = 



10000 



If we further take д; = j, where ij is the quantity of CU^ 



in 1 1. of water actually combined with the normal carbonate 

 to form bicarbonate, we get: 



d {A —y) 



У 



= С. 



By means of this formula I have computed the value of 

 С from the experiments of the table. 



