ARTIFICIAL SEA-WATER. 151 
ARTIFICIAL SEA-WATER. 
BY R. M. LLOYD. 
Having had occasion to make some artificial sea-water, and not feeling 
satisfied with Mr. Gosse’s formula, I calculated one as below from Dr. 
Schweitzer’s analysis of sea-water at Brighton. Ifound Mr. Gosse in error 
with regard to the amount of sulphate of magnesia, his quantities are 
also very confusing, being partly given in “ounces avoirdupois” and partly 
in “grains troy.” It is, however, unnecessary to be very exact in the 
respective quantities of the different substances. Plants and animals 
will thrive in water compounded according to Mr. Gosse’s direction. 
The composition of the sea, moreover, varies not only in different places 
but in the same place at different times. The most important point, is to 
have the water of the right specific gravity, which may be told by some 
form of hydrometer, preferably a hollow glass ball so weighted that it 
will just float when the water is of the right density. 
DR. SCHWEHITZER’S ANALYSIS. 
Parts in 1,000. 
VERORT sp iolciy: cep s smteceV pila precie > 964'74 100, 1bs. = 10 gallons, 
Chloride of Sodium ........ 27 06 44:92 oz. = 4402. 15 drs. 
Chloride of Potassium .... 17 12807. i= Loz. 4drs, 
Chloride of Magnesium .... 3°67 6090z. = 602, 2drs. 
Bromide of Magnesium .... 03 05:07. = 1 dr. 
Sulphate of Magnesia ...... 2°30 38loz. = 302. 13 drs. 
Sulphate of Lime .......... 1:40 232027. = 202. 5 drs. 
Carbonate of Lime ........ *03 510z/1 = 1 dr. 
Iodine and Ammonia ...... traces 
1000° 
It is quite unnecessary to use distilled water. Clear stream water, 
or that from a deep well, is to be preferred. Ordinary pump water must 
be avoided. 
As chloride of sodium (common table salt) usually contains 
chloride of potassium, it will be sufficient if the weights of the two are 
added together, and that quantity of common salt used. The salt should 
be well dried before it is weighed. 
Chloride of magnesium must be kept in a closely stoppered bottle 
until required, as it rapidly absorbs water from the air. 
Bromide of magnesium. This being in such a small proportion, 
may be entirely disregarded if thought well. 
Sulphate of magnesia. This, as ordinarily sold under the name of 
Epsom salts, consists of rather more than half water of crystallisation, 
(63 parts in 123.) It is, therefore, necessary to make allowance for this, 
and instead of sulphate of magnesia 3°81 oz. — 3 oz. 13 drams, read Epsom 
salts 7°82 oz. = 7 oz. 13 drams. 
Sulphate of lime is only soluble to the extent of one part in about 
400, and, as sea water contains about one part in 700, if a saturated 
solution of rather more than half the quantity proposed to be made be 
formed, and then the clear supernatant solution poured off, filtered, if 
necessary, and added to the other portion, the whole will contain about 
the proper proportion. 
Carbonate of lime. As this occurs in the water proposed to be 
used, and only in a very small proportion in the sea, it is quite unneces- 
sary to take any further notice of it. 
