368 



by the action of the carbonic acid. Schloesing found out the 

 following empirical formula : 



Xm = ky 



in which X stands for the tension of CO^ expressed in atmo- 

 spheres and y for the quantity of CaCO.^ dissolved, whereas m 

 and к are constants. For carbonate of lime he found 

 m == 0.37866 and к = 0.92128, whereas for carbonate of baryta 

 m was = 0.38045 and к = 0.534726. in view of the close resem- 

 blance between the two values for m Schloesing expressed the 

 opinion that this constant is of fundamental importance and 

 will hold good for all carbonates of small solubility. 



1 have not myself studied the relations between the quantity 

 and tension of carbonic acid and the alkalinity of freshwater, 

 but I am of opinion that the same laws will hold good as 

 those found for the seawater. Where no other base, but 

 C'aCOy, is present, the simple dissociation-formula for bicar- 

 bonates of divalent bases must govern the process up to very 

 high tensions. 



I have made a single determination of the influence of 

 rising temperature upon a tension which was indeed very high 

 previously. 



The tension at the higher temperature agrees very well 

 with the calculated figure, and it appears therefore that by such 

 high tensions the alteration of the chemical equilibrium, which 

 no doubt takes place, has no perceptible influence on the 

 tension. 



') The values of a are taken from Вони. Ann. der Physik und Chemie. 

 Neue Folge Bd. (>.S. 1899, p, 504. 



