in the Butter of Nutmegs. Ill 



bustion. As the result of his experiments, he ascertained 

 that a quantity of carbonic acid always passed into the appa- 

 ratus, containing potash. This gain was generally about one- 

 third of the potash employed, two-thirds still remaining in 

 combination with the alkali. By subtracting this from the 

 weight of the carbonic acid obtained in the experiment, and 

 calculating the potash as a neutral carbonate, we cannot be 

 far from the truth. This has been done by Redtenbacher * in 

 his researches upon stearic acid, and is the only one at pre- 

 sent which can be adopted. 



I. O'SSi gramme of substance gave 0'324 water, and 

 0"797 carbonic acid. 



II. 0'324 gramme of substance gave 0*296 water, and 

 0'727 carbonic acid. 



0*404. gramme gave 0*130 sulphate of potash. 



The first is equal to 62*25 per cent., the second 62*04' per 

 cent, carbonic acid ; but on the supposition that the potash 

 remains after the combustion, as a carbonate, then 2*25 per 

 cent, of carbon must have remained with it. Only two*thirds 

 of this, however, should be added to the carbon actually pro- 

 cured in the analysis ; hence the result is as follows : 



I. II. Atoms. 



Carbon... 63-75 63*54. 



Hydrogen 10*16 lO'lS 

 Oxygen... 8*70 8*92 



Potash ... 17-39 17*39 



100*00 10000 3367-03 100*00 



The formula of the salt is Se + K O, Before sericate of 

 potash is sul)jected to analysis, it must be repeatedly dissolved 

 in water and evaporated to dryness, for the alcohol employed 

 in its preparation adheres to it with so much tenacity that it 

 cannot be expelled, unless this process is adopted. 



Sericate of Soda. — This salt may be prepared in the same 

 manner as the last. It is soluble in water and alcohol, but 

 insoluble in aether. For the reasons already stated under 

 " sericate of potash," the salt of soda was not analysed, as 

 its analysis could lead to no satisfactory results. 



Sericate of Lead. — This salt was obtained by digesting seri- 

 cine for several days with basic acetate of lead (Ac + 6 PbO). 



It is a dense white powder, insoluble in water, and insoluble 

 or very slightly soluble in alcohol. After digesting for a 

 considerable time, the salt must be thrown on a filter, and 

 washed very carefully with water. The lead was estimated 



• Annalen der Chemie wid Pharmacie, xxxv. I. 



