BORON. 157 



converts it into a kind of acid, which has a yel- 

 low colour, and very different properties from 

 the pure naphthaline. 



SECT. II. 



OF THE ATOMIC WEIGHT OF BORON 



THE experiments of Davy, and of Gay-Lussac Atom of 



rri i i -i boracic acid 



and Ihenard, to determine the composition ot stm doubt- 

 boracic acid by the augmentation of weight u 

 which takes place when boron is converted into 

 boracic acid, differ so much from each other, 

 that it is impossible to put any confidence in 

 either. Davy found that 30 grains of potassium 

 were requisite to reduce a quantity of boracic 

 acid capable of furnishing 2*37<5 grains of boron. 

 Now, 30 grains of potassium when converted in- 

 to potash, (as they were by the process) absorb 

 6 grains of oxygen. Hence, we have boracic 

 acid composed of 



Boron 2 -375 or 1 

 Oxygen 6 - 2-52 



He found farther, that 1 grain of boron, when 

 converted into boracic acid, absorbs 5-125 cubic 

 inches of oxygen gas, or 1*7368 grain. This 

 gives us boracic acid composed of 



