284 Trade mid Commerce. 



Acetite of lead forme^ in it an insoluble precipitate^ re-* 

 ducible on burning coals. 



Nitrate of silver, brown, brilliant, and light scales. 



These experiments induced M. Klaproth to conclude that 

 the salt collected on the bark of the mulberry tree was com- 

 posed of lime and a particular vegetable acid. 



On decomposing this salt by carbonate of ammonia, 

 M. Klaproth obtained a deposit of carbonate of lime. The 

 supernatant liquor gave, after proper evaporation, long nar- 

 row prisms ; the water even of these crvJtals precipitated 

 nitric solutions of copper, green ; of cobalt, pale red ; of 

 xu'anium, yellow ; of iron, brown ; of mercury, silver, and 

 lead, the same. It rendered slightly turbid a solution of 

 acetite of barytes in water, muriates of tin and of gold, and 

 nitrate of nickel : but these precipitations, according to the 

 author, might be the effect rather of the extractive matter 

 which adhered to the acid, than of a chemical combination 

 with the metallic solutions. 



To obtain the pure acid, M. Klaproth employed the pre- 

 cipitate obtained by a mixture of the solution of the calca- 

 reous salt and the acetite of lead. This precipitate was then 

 decomposed by sulphuric acid diluted with water. The 

 proportions employed were 24 grains of acid, diluted with 

 one gTos of water. The sulphate of lead was separated by 

 the iiher. The liquor, when evaporated, gave bv crystal- 

 lization 34 grains of acid in fine needles of a pale woad 

 colour. 



The natural calcareous salt was also decomposed directly 

 by sulphuric acid. The result was the same. Thirty grains 

 of salt, and twelve of sulphuric acid, were employed. 



The properties of this new acid are : a very striking acid 

 succinic taste ; it remains in the air without experiencing 

 any change; it dissolves easily in water and alcohol, and 

 does not precipitate metallic solutions. When distilled, it 

 appears only in part decompoe ed ; a portion is destroyed, 

 and the other is sublimated. This m.ethod may be employed 

 to separate it from the extractive part, to which it adheres 

 too strongly to be freed from it in the moist way. 



M. Klaproth proposes to call this acid the moroiiilic, and 

 its saline combinations moronitaies. 



TRADE AMD COMMERCE. 



A new periodical work has appeared at Petersburg under 

 the title of the Petersburg Imperial Journal of Trade ; it is 

 published both in the Piussian and German languages. The 

 first number contains a view of the history of Petersburgh, 



in 



