11(5 COMBUSTIBLE ACIDS. 



is slightly saline, and somewhat similar to that of 

 phosphate of soda. It is not very soluble in 

 water, and is very easily rendered brown, unless 

 great care be taken in regulating the heat to 

 which it is exposed. 



22-625 grains of these crystals were dissolved 

 in water, and the liquid mixed with a solution 

 of 20*75 grains of nitrate of lead. A double de- 

 composition took place immediately, and saclac- 

 tate of lead was precipitated in abundance. The 

 clear supernatant liquid was tested by sulphate 

 of soda and nitrate of lead, but was not in the 

 least affected by either; showing, that it con- 

 tained no sensible quantity of lead or of saclac- 

 tic acid. 



The saclactate of lead being collected on a 

 double filter, washed and dried in a temperature 

 not exceeding 212, weighed 27 grains. Now, 

 it contained all the protoxide of lead existing in 

 20*75 grains of nitrate of lead, amounting to 14 

 grains. It was therefore composed of 



Protoxide of lead 1 4 

 Saclactic acid 13 



27 



From this experiment it follows that 22*625 

 grains of crystallized saclactate of soda contain 

 13 grains of saclactic acid. As these 13 grains 

 just saturated 14 grains of protoxide of lead, 

 which is the equivalent for an atom, it is obvious 



