96 On definite Proportions. 
Salis of soda. While, according to the experiments whiclt 
are here related, the salts of potass seem in general to be with- 
out water of crystallization, those of soda on the other hand con- 
tain it in abundance, but retain it with a very slight attraction, 
so that the greater number of them fall to powder in a dry at- 
mosphere. Hence it is very difficult to obtain accurate results 
with respect to them, since it may easily happen, that such a 
salt may begin to crumble away at the surface, before it is dry in 
the middle. 
Sulphate of soda, in pure crystals, was washed: with water, 
pulverised, and in great measure separated again from the water 
on blotting paper, then dried in a press for twenty-four hours, 
between several folds of fresh blotting paper, and lastly dried 
again by slow degrees, and then ignited, in a platina crucible. 
In this process 30 grammes lost 16°8 in weight ; consequently 
the salt contains 56 per cent. of water of crystallization, and 
must consist of 
Sulphuric acid... 24°76 
Soda sag Tae» wele (ROA 
Water. t:0' 74 ye:+ 0 DOLOO 
Now 19:24 parts of soda contain 4:953 of oxygen, and 56 of 
water 49°42; so that in this salt the water of crystallization 
contains exactly_ten times as much oxygen as the base. 
_ Acetate of soda. Ten grammes of acetate of soda, pow- 
dered, and dried in the open air, when exposed to the heat of a 
sand-bath, fell into dust, and lost 4:011 gr. of their weight. 
Five grammes of the acetate which had crumbled to dust, when 
muriatic acid was poured on it, and the salt was dried and ignited, 
afforded 3°584 of muriate ofsoda. Consequently the acetate of 
soda must consist of 
Acetic acid 61-689 100-0 86°95 
Soda..w..° 38311. 62:1 22:94 
L-—,-—- 40:11 Water, 
when dry. when containing water. 
Now 22:94 parts of soda contain 5:897, and 40:11 of water 
35°397 parts of oxygen ; and 5°S97 x 6=35°382. Consequently 
in this salt the water of crystallization contains six times as 
much oxygen as the base. 
Acetate of lime. In order in some measure to check this re- 
sult, | converted 10 gr. of acetate of lime, which had been dried 
to a powder in a strong heat, into muriate of lime, and obtained 
from it 7-005 gr. which contained 35-5782 of pure lime. Con- 
sequently the acetate of lime consists of 
Py Acetic acid... 64:218 100-00 
 «. Lime....... 35°782 55°74 
The quantity of soda, which decomposes 100 parts of sciataee 
; ° 
