352 Analysis of Scientific Books. 
Liquid Muriatic Acid. 
Muriatic Acid. Water. 
: Diluted 
ees of Sulphuric 
Acid 
Soda. Sulphuric Acid. 
Dry Sulphate of Soda. 
“ According to the opinion of Sir H. Davy, now generally adopted, 
common salt, or chloride of sodium, is a compound of 36 chlorine 
and 24 of the metallic body sodium; liquid sulphuric acid consists 
of 40 parts of dry acid and 9 of water, the water being composed of 
1 of hydrogen and 8 of oxygen; when these quantities of common 
salt and liquid sulphuric acid act upon each other, the water and 
chloride of sodium are both decomposed; the 1 of hydrogen uniting 
with 36 of chlorine, constitute 37 of muriatic acid gas, and the 8 of 
oxygen with the 24 of sodium form 32 of oxide of sodium, or soda. 
The 37 of muriatic acid gas combining with the water used in dilut- 
ing the acid, rise with it in the state of vapour, and by condensation 
in the receiver, liquid muriatic acid is produced; the 40 parts of dry 
sulphuric acid uniting with the 32 of soda, form 72 of dry sulphate 
of soda, which remain in the retort. 
37 Muriatic Acid Gas. 
pe 
36 Chlorine 1 Hydrogen 
§ Oxygen 
9 Water 
49 Liquid 
60 Chloride of Sulphuric 
Sodium : 
24 Sodium pits 
8 Oxygen 
— 40 Dry Sul- 
32 Soda phuric Acid. 
eee. Fo eee 
72 Dry Sulphate of Soda. 
“¢ In preparing this acid it is, I think, more convenient to mix the 
sulphuric acid and water in a separate vessel than in the retort; to 
introduce the salt first into the retort and to pour the acid upon it ; 
and to put less water into the receiver, and more into the retort. 
“ Qualities.—Muriatic acid, when perfectly pure, is colourless ; 
it emits white suffocating fumes, which turn vegetable blues red ; its 
taste is strongly sour and acrid ; when its sp. gr. is 1°160 as directed 
by the college, a fluid ounce weighs about 527 grains; it is stated 
