38 Improvements in Physical Science (Jan. 
tained ; and subsorbate, which is the insoluble hard residue left 
upon the filter. Both of the last two salts are insoluble in water ; 
but when the sorbate is boiled in water, it is decomposed into super- 
sorbate and subsorbate. ‘The supersorbate remains dissolved in the 
liquid; and, on cooling, deposits crystals of sorbate, while the 
excess of acid remains in the liquid. Malic acid only combines 
with oxide of lead in two proportions, forming supermalate and 
malate of lead. 
Sorbie acid in excess forms with potash, soda, and ammonia, 
salts which yield permanent crystals. The salts of malic acid with 
the same bases do not crystallize. 
Sorbie acid is neutralized by carbonates of lime and barytes, 
while these carbonates are incapable of neutralizing malic acid. 
Sorbate of magnesia crystallizes; malate of magnesia yields no 
crystals. 
Sorbic acid does not dissolve alumina. 
VII. SALTS. 
1, New Triple Salt.—Mr. Geiger, apothecary at Karlsfuhe, 
evaporated the liquid that remained after the preparation of muriatic 
acid from a mixture of sulphuric acid and common salt, from which 
he had separated all the crystals of sulphate of soda that he could 
obtain. He procured a salt which possessed the following pro- 
erties :— 
j It crystallized in transparent rectangular oblong tables or square 
tables, from the size of 1 inch to 4 inch and + of a line in thick- 
ness. Sometimes small crystals appeared nearly of the cubic form. 
Its taste was cooling, and similar to that of sulphate of soda. It 
did not effloresce. At the temperature of 68° it dissolves in twice 
its weight of water. When the solution is cooled, crystals of common 
sulphate of soda are deposited. He found by analysis that this salt 
was composed of 
Sulphuric acid ...,.,00..scceesesas 29°'800 
Mortiatic Ho ee eee Ae 
BON! cues soiae cn ses cece b> stentee Onms 
Water of crystallization............ 57°500 
100°000 
I cannot, for my part, consider this as a true triple salt. The 
proportion of muriatic acid is too small. Besides, the proportions of 
sulphuric acid and soda are just those which exist in sulphate of 
soda ; namely, two atoms of sulphuric acid and one atom of soda. 
The muriatic acid seems only to be mechanically mixed. Probably 
by its attraction for water it prevents the efflorescence of the salt. 
The shape of the crystals is not so easily accounted for. 
2. Crystallized Ammonio-Muriate of Rhodium.—For Dr. Wol- 
laston’s method of separating palladium and rhodium held together 
in solution in muriatic acid Vauquelin has substituted the following. 
Into the solution of the two metals, which must contain an excess 
