HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. 5 



numbers 9*75, 6-5, 6, 4, 3-5, and 2-5. When 

 nitrate of lime, and sulphate of potash decompose 

 each other, the nitrate of potash, and sulphate of 

 lime formed, are neutral, because the relative 

 quantities of potash and lime, which saturate a 

 given weight of nitric and sulphuric acid, are 

 the same. If we represent .nitric acid by 6*75, 

 then 6 of potash and 3 %5 of lime will just satu- 

 rate that quantity of it ; and 6 potash and 3*5 

 lime will just saturate 5 of sulphuric acid. Ni- 

 trate of lime (abstracting the water) is composed 

 of 



Nitric acid 6*75 

 Lime 3-5 



10-25 



and sulphate of potash of 



Sulphuric acid 5 

 Potash 6 



11 



When 1O25 nitrate of lime and 11 sulphate 

 of potash are mixed, a double decomposition 

 takes place, and there are formed 



Nitrate of potash -j 



Nitric acid 6-75 

 Potash 6 



12-75 

 A 3 



