5J1 Obftrvaims ttt Stront'ian. 



tion of a trifule, or of a mixture of fulphurlc aciJ, which the pruJiate of pot-afli mtj 

 fometirr.rt contain. The comparative experiments which I have jlated having been made 

 with the fime prufTiate of pot-afti, the nitrate of {Irontian ought to have been decompofed, 

 as well as that of barytes, if thefe earths had been of the fame nature. 



ConflUuent Parts of the Native Carknatts of Siroiitian and Baiyter. 

 TO detail at large the diiTerent experiments which I have made to determine the confti- 

 tuent parts of the native carbonates of ftrontian and barytes, would be too prolix : I (hall 

 therefore only fav, that it was by folutlon in muriatic acid that I determined the quantity 

 of carbonic acid gas, and by calcination that of the earth. The mean refult which I ob- 

 tained was, 



In ICO grains of native carbonate of ba- 

 rytes, or witherite, 



Barytes, - - - 62 



Carbonic acid, - - 22 



Water, - - - 16 



In 100 grains of carbonate of (Irontian, 



Strontian, - • - 62 



Carbonic acid, . . ^o 



Water, ... 8 



Conc/ri/isn. 



I HAVE not been able to carry my rcfearches further refpe£ling ftrontlan, not having 

 any more to fubmit to new experiments : as foon as I can procure forae, I (hall continitc 

 them, as I perceive that it will be adrantageous to eftabhfli the difference between it and 

 barytes by more numerous and more (Iriking characters. The refults of my examination, 

 and that of MeiTrs. Hope and Klaproth, are : 



ift. That the carbonate of (Irontian is neither poifonous nor emetic, as both the native 

 and arti(icial carbonates of barytes are ; 

 . 2dly, That the carbonate of (Irontian is fpcci(ically lighter than that of barytes ; 

 . 3dly, That it more eafily parts with it's carbonic acid, and contains alfo a larger proper- 

 tion of it than carbonate of barytes does ; 



4thly, That calcined flrontian is foluble in cold and hot water, but more abundantly in 

 the latter, fo as to afford cryftals by cooling ; — a property, indeed, which it pofTelfes in 

 common with barytes ; 



5thly, That the muriate and other falts of (Irontian are more foluble than the homo- 

 logous barytic falts ; and the nitrate and muriate communicate to alcohol the property of 

 burning with a red flame, whereas the fame barytic falts tinge the flame of their alcoholic 

 folution with a yellowi(h blue ; 



6thly, That (Irontian does not contain lime ; 



7thly and laflly, That the nitrate of (Irontian is not decompofed by prulTiatc of pot-a(h, 

 which dccompofes the nitrate of barytes. 



jWl thefe characters already eftablilha fu(Eciently didiaguilhable diflxrence between (Iron- 

 tian and barytes, and a (till greater between it and all other known e.irths, fo that it may 

 be conGdered as a peculiar earth. 



CON- 



