ACETIC ACID. 129 



crystals when thus treated, lost almost exactly 

 3*375 grains of water which is equivalent to 3 

 atoms of that liquid. 



(2.) It will be shown in a subsequent chapter 

 of this work, that crystallized oxalate of ammo- 

 nia is composed of 



1 atom oxalic acid . 4-5 



1 atom ammonia . 2-125 



2 atoms water 2*25 



8-875 



8-875 grains of crystallized oxalate of ammonia 

 were dissolved in a minimum of distilled water; in 

 another portion of the same liquid, I dissolved 

 23*625 grains of beautiful semitransparent crys- 

 tals of acetate of lead : the two solutions being 

 mixed, a double decomposition took place, and 

 oxalate of lead precipitated to the bottom in a 

 very fine powder, leaving the supernatant liquid 

 quite transparent and colourless. This liquid 

 being tested by sulphate of soda and muriate of 

 lime, was not in the least affected by either of 

 these reagents; showing that it contained no 

 sensible quantity either of oxide of lead or of 

 oxalic acid. From this experiment it is evident, 

 that the oxalic acid in 8-875 grains of oxalate of 

 ammonia just saturates the oxide of lead in 23-625 

 grains of acetate of lead. The oxalate of lead, 

 which had precipitated, was carefully collect^ 



VOL. II. I 



