On Oxalic Acid. 1 07 



according to iht precediog analysis, to seven grains of real 



J-QO grains of this solution were gradnalJy mixed with lime 

 water till the liquid ceased to produce any change on vege- 

 table blues. The oxalate of lime thus formed being well 

 dried, weighed 11*2 grains. Exposed to a violent heat in a 

 platinum crucible, this salt left 4*2 grains of pure lime, 

 ^ence it was composed of 



7 acid, or per cent. 62-5 acid. 



4*2 lime - 37 .5 base. 



11-2 1000 



Thus we have obtained exactly the same result as, in the 

 former experiment, both as far as relates to the composition 

 of oxalate of lime, and likewise to the proportion of water 

 of crystallization in crystallized oxalic acid. 



The lime water necessary to saturate the acid amounted 

 to 3 186 grains. Hence, it contained only -^-J-jth of its weight 

 of lime. 



3. The oxalates of barytes and strontian are vvhita, taste- 

 less powders, which may be obtained by mixing oxalate of 

 ammonia with the muriates of these alkaline earths. It is 

 said that these earths are capable of forming soluble srper- 

 oxa'ates with this acid ; but I have not tried the experiment. 

 These oxalates, as well as oxalate of lime, are partially so- 

 luble in the strong acids. 



4. Oxalate of magnesia is a soft white powder, bearing a 

 considerable reseml)laivce to oxalate of lime, it is tasteless, 

 and not sensibly soluble in water; yet when o.ralate of am- 

 monia is mixed with sulphate of magnesia, no precipitate 

 falls ; but if the solution bo heated and concentrated sufi5- 

 ciently, or it' it be evaporated to dryness, and reriissolved in 

 water, in both cases the oxalate of magnesia separates in the 

 Slate of an insoluble powder. 



5. Oxalate of potash readily crystallize? in flat rhomboids, 

 commonly terminated by dihedral suiiiuuis. The lateral 

 edges of the prism are usually bevelled. The taste of this 

 salt is cooling and bitter. At the temperature of 60^ it dis- 

 solves in thrice its weight of water. When dried on the 

 sand bath, and afterwards exposed in a dump place, it ab- 

 sorbs a little moisture from llie atmosphere. 



This 



