Chemistry. Ixi 
and cooling, and by no means disagreeable. It may be easily 
split into plates, and is not brittle, like most other salts, but pos- 
sesses a certain quantity of softness and pliability. When 
heated it gives out moisture, and assumes a white colour. In 
a red heat it becomes black and alkaline, but its acid is not com- 
pletely dissipated nor decomposed. The solubility of this salt in 
water is as follows: 
8 of the salt. 
At 54°, 100 parts of dissolve 27- 
LOO (cee nee AOR Se oe 65'8 
ENC ONC rE. Mere! ape 87°8 
Dearie ia “se 5 Sal af eb Pecanars 90-6 
It is insoluble in alcohol and ether. It is decomposed by 
sulphuric and nitric acid ; the acid being driven off and destroy- 
ed. Mr. Porrett considers this salt, in its crystallized state, as 
composed of 
1 atom ferro-chyazic acid.... 8°5 - 50°75 
1, atone potash os). biaciyords GBOvwe. he: 85-22 
2 atoms water ..we. le. see 2925.6 sanils-48 
16°75 100-00 
While the constituents of ferro-chyazic acid, according to him, 
are as follows : 
4 ious carbons... «sh ==) 3:00 
J}, dtom azote so. .)s)ss)e% = oh75 
2 atoms hydrogen ..... == 0°25 
A atom ATOMS. 3h) scuselae = 3:50 
8°50 
' But these determinations must be viewed rather as ingenious 
conjectures, than as the actual result of experimental analysis. 
4. Borax.—This salt usually comes to Europe in a crude 
state. Jt is afterwards purified in Europe, and for many years 
the process was practised exclusively by the Dutch. I take it 
for granted that the salt is now refined in Great Britain; though 
[have no personal knowledge of any such manufactory, and 
should esteem it a favour if any of my readers, who happen to 
be acquainted with the fact, would give us some information on 
the subject. MM. Robiquet and Marchand have published 
the following formula for refining this salt, which they assure us 
will answer perfectly. 
The crude borax is to be put into a vessel and covered with 
eight or ten centimetres of water; it is to be allowed to mace- 
rate for some time, agitating occasionally. After five or six 
hours, about =1,th part of slacked lime is to be added, then 
the whole is to be agitated and left till next day. The borax is 
now separated by means of a cloth, and the crystals are to be 
