LIQUID MINERALS, NOT ACID. 179 



Composition. Oxygen 88.94, hydrogen 11.06 (Berzelius). But it almost always con- 

 tains small portions of foreign matter. Its formula is HO. 



The purest water that can be found as a natural product is rain, river, or spring water, or 

 that obtained by melting freshly fallen snow. All these, however, contain portions of air, and 

 sometimes minute quantities of saline matter. Snow water usually contains some organic 

 matter, the exact nature of which has not been determined. 



Most of the well water in various parts of this State contains small portions of carbonate, 

 sulphate and muriate of lime. The presence of the two former is often rendered quite evi- 

 dent by the calcareous crust formed in culinary vessels, in which this water is constantly 

 subjected to heat. The presence of muriate of lime may be detected by the addition of a few 

 drops of nitrate of silver to one portion of the water, and of oxalate of lime to another. A 

 white precipitate vnll in both cases be the result if this compound is present. 



In the vicinity of the sea, and of the brine springs in the western part of New- York, small 

 quantities of common salt are found in the water of wells. But it is a curious fact, that some- 

 times in the immediate vicinity of a highly charged mineral spring, there will be found water 

 of a very great degree of purity. This can only be accounted for on the supposition that this 

 latter has its origin in a different subterranean reservoir. 



It has recently been proved by the experiments of Liebig and others, that atmospheric 

 water usually contains ammonia. This alkali is known to be one of the products of the 

 putrefaction of animal and vegetable matters. It is thus conveyed into the atmosphere, and 

 being very soluble in water, is brought down again by rain and snow. Leibig supposes that 

 it is from the decomposition of this substance that plants receive that portion of nitrogen which 

 seems to be so essential to their growth. 



SEA WATER. 



Common Sea Water. Jameson. 



Description. Liquid, having a bitter nauseous taste and disagreeable smell. Specific 

 gravity varying from 1 . 026 to 1 . 035. 



Composition. Sea water generally contains the following ingredients in 100 parts, viz : 

 Chloride of sodium 2 . 50, chloride of magnesium . 35, sulphate of magnesia . 58, carbo- 

 nate of lime and carbonate of magnesia 0.02, sulphate of lime 0.01, water 96.54, together 

 with some traces of iodide and bromide of magnesium. Kane. 



In 100 parts of water there are chloride of sodium 2.50, sulphate of magnesia 0.53, chlo- 

 ride of magnesium 0.35, carbonate of lime 0.02, sulphate of lime 0.01, besides jijVo of 

 sulphate and muriate of potash. It contains also iodide of sodium and bromide of magne- 

 sium. Ure. 



Water from the Frith of Forth. Chloride of sodium 2.20, sulphate of soda 0.33, chloride 

 of magnesium 0.42, chloride of calcium 0.07. Jameson. 



