138 ACIDIFIABLE COMBUSTIBLES. 



second, a quantity of muriate of lime equivalent 

 to 62i grains of carbonate. When these two so- 

 lutions are mixed, a double decomposition takes 

 place ; the lime and carbonic acid unite together, 

 and precipitate jn the state of carbonate of lime, 

 while the muriatic acid and potash remain in so- 

 lution, constituting muriate of potash. If we 

 examine the clear residual liquid after the car- 

 bonate of lime has precipitated, we shall find in 

 it no uncombined potash, and no carbonate of 

 potash ; for, cudbear paper, dipped into it, is 

 not in the least altered, although a very minute 

 quantity of uncombined alkali, or alkaline car- 

 bonate, gives it a violet stain. Neither does it 

 contain any sensible quantity of lime ; for it is 

 not in the least altered by the addition of a few 

 drops of oxalate of ammonia. When the preci- 

 pitated carbonate of lime is collected and dried, 

 it weighs exactly 62 grains, or is just equal to 

 the original quantity of carbonate of lime em- 

 ployed a clear proof that it contains all the lime 

 and all the carbonic acid of the two salts. 



This experiment will be more easily under- 

 stood if we divide the quantities employed by 

 10. We thus get 8 'J5 grains of carbonate of 

 potash, and 6*25 grains of carbonate of lime 

 each constituting an integrant particle of the an- 

 hydrous salt j for carbonate of potash is com- 

 posed of 



