ON SACCHARUM LACTIS 209 



SECTION IX. WITH METALS. 



It produces the same effects with the metals as with the 

 earths. With regard to the weakness of the menstruum, 

 since the water dissolves so little of our acid, it has no 

 sensible effect upon metals ; but with the metallic earths, 

 salts are formed very little or not at all soluble in water. 

 Argentum nitrated silver is precipitated by our acid in the 

 form of a white powder ; and in the same manner is the 

 nitrated mercury and lead. Vitriolated iron, copper, zinc, 

 and manganese are not hereby precipitated. Muriated tin 

 and mercury are not hereby decomposed, but rnuriated lead 

 is precipitated. By the neutral salts (Sec. vn.) all metallic 

 solutions are decomposed. 



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