196 An Analysis of two Mineral 
the muriatic acid.* The evaporation had been per- 
formed in a copper vessel, except at its close; and < 
though it was carried on very rapidly, the deliques: 
cent matter had acquired a strong cupreous taste: 
3. The hepatised solution of manganese (1x. 1.) 
evaporated to dryness leaves a deliquescent salt of 
a peculiar mawkish taste ; and it shews the same signs 
of muriatic acid as the solution of iron, when treated 
with sulphuric acid in the same way. I have expos- 
ed black oxyd of manganese to oxygenated muri- 
atic acid, and find that a deliquescent salt is formed 
which is affected neither by prussiat of potash nor 
tincture of galls ;—alkalies separate from it (what I 
did not expect) white precipitates ; tartrite of potash, _ 
a crystalline insoluble salt : all properties resembling 
the hepatised solution of manganese. 4. Common 
iron rust, purified by boiling in distilled water, was . 
digested in hepatised water. In a day or two the 
hepatic odour is destroyed, and the liquor has pro- 
perties similar to that which was formed with the 
iron filings. The same kind of deliquescent salt is* 
left by evaporation, shewing the same appearances 
of muriatic acid. However, this liquor resembles 
the solution of manganese in precipitating nitrat 
of silver readily, and of a brown colour (1x. 2.) 
5- I treated mereury in the same way: no gas 
escapes in this experiment, as it does with the iron; 
* Bergman’s Essays, Dissertation 11, 11, B. 2. 
3 J 
