(450) 



far tlie above view tallied with the facts, as it was, of course, not at 

 all certain that the idea as to the velocity of the reaching of phase- 

 and reaction-equilibrium was even approximately correct. If a definite 

 complex were shaken for a long time at 80°, we ought to find results 

 for the composition of the liquid, which in the graphic repre- 

 sentation would be represented by a point moving along a line of 

 the form HILQ in (ig. 1, whereas the analysis of the "residue' 

 ought to point to an increase of the quantity of solid calcium 

 hydroxide in the solid substance. It was a foregone conclusion that it 

 would really not be possible to realise the part HI thereof, as we 

 starled froui a cold liquid, whose equilibrium appears to be situated 

 fairly near the side of the saccharate, but which surely does not 

 contain trisaccharate only. The experiments were carried out as 

 follows: A sugar solution was shaken at the temperatui-e of the 

 room with quick lime and then tillered rapidly so as to prevent the 

 disturbing action of the atmospheric carbon dioxide. The sugar used 

 was pui-e saccharose, the calcium oxide and the hydroxide were 

 commercially-pure products. The solution was shaken in small bottles 

 in a thermostat at 80° (±0.2°). After shaking for a sufficient length 

 of time the suspended matter was allowed to settle which sometimes 

 proved to be very tedious. 



The long tiuje required for the subsidence of a mass which is not 

 in perfect equilibrium and of which afterwards both solution and 

 deposit are tested raises, of course, some suspicion : but, as stated 

 above, we have not been able to find a method which did not 

 present some still greater difficulties. 



When the mass had subsided sufficiently a little of the clear 

 supernatant liquid was blown out of the bottle by means of a 

 blight pressure. For this purpose there had been placed beforehand 

 on the botde a stopper through which two little tubes had been 

 introduced. One of the tubes allowed the introduction of a little 

 pressure ; to the other was sealed an enlarged piece which, filled 

 with cotton wool, dipped into the liquid and served as a filter. 

 This little filter was heated beforehand in a drying oven to fully 

 80° ^). We were nearly always successful in obtaining filtrates 

 which (at 80°) were quite clear. Of the liquid, about 13 grams were 

 collected in a weighing bottle. The liquid still present in the bottle 

 was carefully but rapidly poured off, thus leaving the "residue" behind. 



1) This precaution was by no means superfluous. During the course of the 

 research I have noticed many a lime that the least cooling of a solution which 

 at 80° contains a little suspended lime or saccharate may considerably increase 

 the lime content of the liquid phase. 



