176 Oil the Alkalies of Commerce. 



Alhati-metrical Requisite^. 



Besides the alkali-noeter and the test liquor the following 

 articles must be procured : 



1. Syrup of violets. 



2. A small balance i those for weighing gold coins will 

 answer ; we may employ smaller^ hoWeveri 



3. Weights of 2 drachms 44 grains and two-thirds of a 

 grain. 



4. A measure of a demi -decilitre, or rather, according 

 to the old system, the smal! measure answering to the six- 

 teenth of a Paris pint (those which have no lids are pre- 

 ferable) ; this small vessel is intended to give any two 

 measures of water, and its capacity is not of very great conse- 

 quence : any olhin- vessel of nearly the same capacity will 

 answer. 



5. Common drinking-glasses : those whose edges are 

 turned outwards should be preferred : if common glasses 

 only are used, before decanting a portion of the liquor into 

 them as I have described, we must give a slight coating of 

 oil, fat or grease, to part of their orifice, which will present 

 an irregular flowing down the outer sides. 



6. Small chips of wood or matches from which the 

 sulphured ends have been taken off. 



7. A bottle of v/ater and an earthen plate. 



8. Lastly, for soda, hard American potash, and natron, 

 there must be a metal pestle and mortar of about six inched 

 in its greatest diameter. 



The whole being arranged, you may easily proceed to 

 the trial of any given alkali ; we shall take potash as an 

 example. 



jJlkali-vielrical Trials of Potash. 



Weigh exactly one decagramme, or two drachms 44*- 

 grains of potash ; put it into a glass, and pour upon it 

 about four-fifths of a demi-decilitre of water j facilitate the 

 solution of the potash by stirring it with a small chip of 

 wood three or four times in an hour and a half, a minute each 

 at each time. When you think the solution is effected, pour 



it 



