274 FIXED ALKALIES AND ALKALINE EARTHS. 



a careful analysis of this salt, I have ascertained 

 its composition to be as follows : 



1 atom muriatic acid = 4-625 

 1 atom strontian =6*5 

 8 atoms water = 9 



20-125 



So that an integrant particle of it weighs 20'125. 

 When 20*125 grains of these crystals are ex- 

 posed to a red heat in a platinum crucible, they 

 lose 10' 125 grains of water, which is equivalent 

 to 9 atoms ; and there remain behind 10 grains 

 of chloride of strontium, which is equivalent to 

 the weight of an integrant particle of that chlo- 

 ride. Thus, muriate of strontian, like muriate 

 of barytes, loses 1 atom of water more than it 

 contains in the state of water. This atom is 

 produced by the double decomposition of the 

 muriate of strontian into an atom of water, and 

 an atom of chloride of strontium, precisely in 

 the manner explained in the last section, when 

 treating of the conversion of muriate of barytes 

 into chloride of barium by heat. 



SECT. VI. 



OF THE ATOMIC WEIGHTS OF LIME AND CALCIUM. 



THE salts of lime are either insoluble in water, 

 or they contain much water of crystallization, of 



