GOLD. 44 1 



Real acid 1 1 1 



Water l66'5 



277*5 



But 111 grains of muriatic acid are equivalent 

 to 24 atoms : for 4-625 x 24 = 111. It will 

 appear from the facts about to be stated in this 

 section, that the atomic weight of gold is 25 : 

 and 300 = 25 x 12. So that 300 grains are 

 equivalent to 12 atoms of gold. 



From this it appears, that in order to obtain a 

 solution of 12 atoms of gold, we must employ 

 at least 24 atoms of muriatic acid. Hence, from 

 this preliminary experiment, I considered it as 

 probable, that muriate of gold is a compound 

 containing 2 atoms muriatic acid for every atom 

 of gold. 



2. To the solution of 300 grains of gold in 

 nitric muriatic acid, previously made as neutral 

 as possible, 90 grains of pure decrepitated com- 

 mon salt were added, previously dissolved in 

 water. On evaporating this solution, it crystal- 

 lized readily, and I obtained fine crystals of the 

 triple salt of gold to the very last drop. Not a 

 single crystal of common salt separated ; nor had 

 even the last portions of the salt the least ten- 

 dency to deliquesce. From this experiment, 

 which was several times repeated, it is obvious, 

 that the triple salt is a compound of 90 grains 

 of' common salt, and the quantity of muriate 



