194 



Mr. J. Y. Buchanan on the Absorption of [Feb. 19, 



nascent carbonic acid at ordinary temperatures, to give them the best 

 opportunity of combining. Two experiments were made with a simi- 

 larly prepared solution of sulphate of lime. In this case sulphuric acid 

 was added to the water in quantity sufficient to form, with lime, more 

 salt than would dissolve in the liquid. Here neutralization took place 

 without difficulty ; and, as might have been expected, the amount of 

 carbonic acid found was considerably greater than in the case of the 

 magnesia salt. 



Two experiments were made with an ordinary sulphate-of -magnesia 

 solution, containing 2-05 grammes crystallized salt per litre. 



Two further experiments were made with a solution containing 2'05 

 grammes sulphate of magnesia and 20 grammes chloride of sodium per 

 litre. All were conducted in the way described above, and the results 

 are given in the following Table. The experiments with the carbonates 

 of magnesia and of lime were made at a considerably later date than the 

 others ; the value of 10 cub. centims. baryta- water had in consequence 

 become equivalent to 32'0 cub. centims. instead of 32'34 cub. centims. 

 oxalic acid : 



Five experiments were made with sea-water taken at the end of Porto- 

 bello Pier, on the Firth of Forth. In the first three it was submitted 

 immediately to the same treatment as the saline solutions ; in the last two 

 carbonic acid was first passed through it for some time. As the results 

 are identical, it is evident that, in its natural state, the water in question 

 was practically saturated with carbonic acid in this peculiar state of com- 

 bination. 



