in Brine-Springs and in Hock-Salt. 413 



which, having previously ascertained that neither uncombined 

 acid nor sulphate of magnesia was present, he considered as 

 indicating the existence of sulphate of soda in the brine ; with- 

 out taking any means of determining whether another alkali 

 might not be present. By recomputing the numerical results 

 he obtained, according to our present knowledge of the con- 

 stitution of the various salts in question, employing Dr. Thom- 

 son's table of equivalents, as given by Mr. R. Phillips in the 

 Annals of Philosophy, N. S., vol. x. p. 293, diis excess of sul- 

 phuric acid may be shown to amount to 3*909 grains in the 

 quantity of entire salt (resulting from the evaporation to dr\'- 

 ness of the brine) examined by Mr. Horner. Now it is at 

 least quite as probable that this excess of sulphuric acid should 

 be owing to sulphate of potash as to sulphate of soda; if 

 indeed it be not assignable with greater probability, to the 

 presence of the former salt. This may be seen from the fol- 

 lowing statement. 



On recomputing Mr. Horner's results, it will be found that 

 the 4-31*860 grs. of entire salt analysed, contain, of 



Chlorine 251-235 



Sulphuric acid T'^o? 



Lime S-'iS-l- 



Magnesium O'OSO 



the quantity of soda being merely inferred, as usual. 



The magnesium is evidently in the stale of chloride in the 

 salt: O'OSO of magnesium combine with 0*240 of chlorine, 

 becoming 0*320 of chloride of magnesium. This leaves 250*995 

 of chlorine, which unite with 167*305 of sodium to become 

 4'18*300 of chloride of sodium*. 



Again : 2*484 of lime require for their conversion into sulphate 

 of lime 3*548 of sulphuric acid, forming 6*032 of the sulphate. 



W^e thus find that die proximate constituents of this entire 

 salt, neglecting the excess of sulphuric aciii, are 



Chloride of sodium 418*300 



magnesium 0*320 



Sulphate of lime 6*032 



424*652 

 Deficiency 7*208 



431*860" 

 * It would have been inconsistent with the truth of chemical science, 

 if, in recoiiiputinj,' Mr. Horner's analysis, the terms and appropriate mini- 

 bers for chlorine, magnesium and sodium, had not been substituted for 

 those of muriatic acid, maf,'nesia, and soda. Hut no o|)inion is meant to 

 be ex|)ressed as to the acUial state of combination in which the elements 

 of the muriatic salts exist in the brine. 'J-he true slate of the general 

 <|uestion on this sulycct appears to be, that some chlorides arc converted 

 into muriates by solution in wuler, while others, when in solution, retain 

 the chioridic form. 



TiuMirds 



