FORMIC ACID. 149 



was that the saclactic acid contained a greater 

 proportion of adhering water than the saclactate 

 of lead ; though even the saclactate of lead was, 

 probably, not absolutely free from water unless, 

 indeed, the small excess of water in that analysis 

 was derived from some other accidental source 

 as the moisture of the air when the ingredients 

 happened to be mixed together. Upon the 

 whole, these analyses of Berzelius come wonder- 

 fully near the truth, and do much honour both to 

 the sagacity and skill of this most indefatigable 

 chemist. 



SECT. VIII. 



OF THE ATOMIC WEIGHT OF FORMIC ACID. 



THOUGH formic acid was discovered by Margraft) 

 and several of its properties pointed out, it is 

 only of late years that very correct notions re- 

 specting it have been attained. Fourcroy and 

 Vauquelin endeavoured to prove, in 1802, that it 

 was merely a mixture of acetic and malic acids ; 

 but this opinion was refuted, and the peculiar 

 nature of formic acid established by Suersen, and 

 Gehlen. Dobereiner has lately pointed out some 

 properties by which this acid may be readily dis- 

 tinguished from every other. 



1. Formic acid, as far as is known at present, Properties 

 cannot be obtained in the state of crystals, but acid 



K3 



