GOLD. 445 



true quantity of chloride of sodium was 7 '5 

 grains ; in general, the quantity actually obtain- 

 ed did not exceed 7*4 grains. Probably the 0*1 

 grain missing made its escape along with the 

 water, owing to the rapidity with which the heat 

 was raised, or to some other circumstance which 

 I was not able to appreciate. I attempted to 

 find it in the water ; but the evidences were not 

 sufficiently unequivocal to enable me to speak 

 positively on the subject. 



From the preceding analysis it appears, that 

 50*5 grains of the triple salt of gold are com- 

 posed of 



Gold . . 25 



Chloride of sodium 7-5 



Chlorine . . 9 



Water . . 9 



50-5 



Now, it is obvious that 7*5 is an integrant par- 

 ticle of common salt, 9 two atoms of chlorine, 

 and 9 eight integrant particles of water. As 

 the salt is neutral, and as all the other constitu- 

 ents enter into it in atomic proportions, gold Atom ot 

 must do so too ; consequently, the atomic weight 

 of gold is 25. It is obvious, therefore, that the 

 constituents of the salt are as follows : 



