SALTS 



long known ; the following experiment shows 

 us, likewise, the proportion of water : 18-25 

 grains of it being dissolved in water and mixed 

 with a solution of 26%5 grains of chloride of ba- 

 rium, a double decomposition took place, and 

 after the sulphate of barytes had precipitated the 

 residual liquid was neither affected by sulphate 

 of soda nor muriate of barytes. Hence, the 

 constituents are 



2 atoms sulphuric acid 10 



1 atom potash . 6 



2 atoms water . . 2-25 



18-25 



Nitrate, 3. Nitrate of potash. This salt is seldom free 

 from a little water lodged mechanically between 

 the plates of the crystals, which is easily driven 

 off by drying the salt on the sand bath. Its con- 



stituents are 



1 atom nitric acid . 6- 7 5 

 1 atom potash . 6 



12-75 



Carbonate, 4. Carbonate of potash. This salt is, in gen- 

 eral, stated in chemical books to be incapable of 

 crystallizing : however, I have obtained it in 

 pretty regular prismatic crystals by evaporating 

 its solution in a gentle heat. These crystals are 

 composed of 



