202 On the Sea Water on the Coasts of Fra??ce. [Sect. 



Channel ; but they differ prodigiously from those of M. PfafF, as 

 may be seen in the second volume of Schweigger's Journal. 



The most remarkable analysis, as far as the results are concerned, 

 is that of the water of the Dead Sea by Klaproth.* This water had 

 been likewise analysed by Macquer, Lavoisier, and Sage. According 

 to Klaproth, its specific gravity is 1*245; and 100 parts of it yield 

 the following constituents : — 



Muriate of magnesia 24*20 



Muriate of lime ] 0-60 



Muriate of soda 7'80 



42*60f 



The specific gravity of sea water, at a mean temperature, may be 

 fixed at 1 -0289. 



Although the three seas, the waters of which we have analysed, 

 communicate with each other, we have supposed a difference be- 

 tween them in consequence of the difference of latitude ; and we 

 have been tempted to believe that if these waters do not differ in 

 the nature of the salts which they contain, they may nevertheless 

 differ in the quantity of saline matter which they respectively 

 contain. 



The water which we employed was taken from the surface of the 

 sea, X on a calm day, and always at the same season of the year. 



The water of the Mediterranean was sent us by M. Poutet, 

 npothecary at Marseilles. It was taken up at the distance of some 

 leagues from that place. For the water of the Atlantic Ocean we 

 are indebted to the complaisance of M. Leboeuf, apothecary at 

 Bayonne. The specimen was taken from the gulf of Gascony. 

 The water of the English Channel was taken up at Havre, seven 

 leagues from the shore, by M. l'Abbe des Fontaines, and was sent 

 us by M. le Bret, apothecary at Rouen. M. Houest, Mayor of 

 Dieppe, had likewise the complaisance to send us water from the 

 English Channel, taken up two leagues to the north of Dieppe, 

 from the middle of the sea. 



All these specimens of sea water were first examined by means 

 of re-actives. The results were as follows : — 



1. With oxalate of ammonia, a scanty light precipitate. 



2. Carbonate of potash and of soda throw down a precipitate. 



» The lake Asphaltes in Jiulea, known by the name of the Dead Sea, which in 

 eonsequence of an earthquake inundated Sodom and Gomorrah, as the Scripture 

 informs us, is remarkable for ihe great quantity of salt which it contains. The 

 bitter saline substances which it contains prevent animals and vegetables from 

 living in it: hence the name Dead Sea. Its specific gravity is so high that it can 

 • upport weights which would sink in fresh water. 



+ See for this analysis Annul* of Philosophy, No. I. I consider the analysis of 

 Dr. Marcet and Mr. Tennant as more precise. See Annals of Philosophy, 

 No. II.— T. 



\ The water taken from a great depth at the Canaries, and analysed by Berg- 

 man, contains more salt tiiau wnter taken from tin,- surface of the sea. 



