390 SALTS 



obtained also in needles. It is usually anhy- 

 drous, and consists of 



1 atom sulphuric acid 5 



1 atom oxide of bismuth 10 



15 



Nitrate, 2. Nitrate of bismuth. This salt may be ob- 

 tained from a solution of the salt, formed by dis- 

 solving bismuth in nitric acid in water, by eva- 

 porating the solution. It forms very beautiful 

 transparent colourless crystals having the shape 

 of pretty oblique rhombs. 



The constituents of these crystals are 



1 atom nitric acid . 6'75 



1 atom oxide of bismuth 1 

 3 atoms water . 3-375 



20-125 



Dinitrate, 3, Dinitrate of bismuth. The crystals that 

 form when bismuth is dissolved in rather con- 

 centrated nitric acid, have an excess of acid 

 from which they may be freed by pressure be- 

 tween folds of blotting paper. I analyzed them 

 thus purified as much as possible, and found the 

 constituents 



1 atom nitric acid . 6*75 



2 atoms oxide of bismuth 20 



2 atoms water . . 2-25 



29 



