On the Chcmkal Nature of Ants. 15 1 



the acetous acid, and even by that which was obtained in 

 the lolution above delcribed, No. 7. 



As this experiment fhows lliat the acid taken from the ants 

 b,v alcohol^ and combined with Hme, contained lomething 

 elfe than acetous acid, fince this calcareous fait precipi- 

 tated acetite of lead ; and as this diHerent matter was not vo- 

 latile, fince .the prod u(5l of the diltillation with fulphuric acid 

 did not produce the fame eflc6l, we tried tf) find it again in 

 the refiduum of the didillation : but this refiduuni contained 

 lo much fulphuric acid that it was impoflible for us tofiic- 

 ceed ; we therefore had recourfc to the followino; experiment. 



9th. A part of the combination of the formic acid with 

 lime was mixed with a folution of nitrate of lead, and there 

 was immediately formed a very abundant precipitate of a yel- 

 lowidi colour, which when put upon burning coals, after hav- 

 ing been well wafhed and dried, became immedialelv black, 

 exhaled an animal and ammoniacal odour, while the lead was 

 reduced to a metallic liate. 



Sulphuric acid diluted with about fix parts of wafer was 

 poured over this precipitate reduced to fine powder. At the 

 moment of mixture the powder remained at the furface of 

 the liquor as if it had been a fat fubliance, and it did not be- 

 come mixed with fulphuric acid till after long agitation. 



When the mixture was well made the volume of the pre- 

 cipitate was diminidied : it became heavier and whiter. The 

 liquor then had a flight acid and faccharine favour, which 

 was deftroved bv the addition of the fulphuric acid, and was 

 foon fucceeded by a naufeous favour. It precipitated flightlv 

 muriate of barvtes, which indicates fome traces of fulphuric 

 acid. It precipitated lime water only very weakly; but at 

 the end of fome hours there were formed a great manv cryf- 

 tals at the furface of ihe liquor, and on the fides of the glafs 

 containing the mixture. 



It precipitated in abundance nitrate of mercury, and thofe 

 of filver and lead. 



Combined with barxtes it gave a reddifli folution of a faline 

 and pungent favour. This coml)ination reduced to a ftnall 

 volume did not crvftallize ; a flight pellicle onlv was formed 

 at its lurface. I'otalli did not feparate the barvtes from this 

 combination, but the alkaline carbonate produced a precipi- 

 tation. 'I'he oxalic acid formed in it a very abundant depofit, 

 but tiie tartarous and citric acids produced in it m) change. 



loih. The faftshere detailed indicate lo us that the matter 



conjbined with lime along with the acetous, acid was ol the 



nature of the malic acid ; l)ut to he more certain we exa- 



miued it conjparalively with the latter, cumbiuiug both oj 



L 4 ihcm 



