i'56 Mr, Farad aV on the Mui'Ual action of sulphuric acid 



gSlv'fe ^ yellowish deliquescent salt, decdiflposed by heat, 

 burning in the air, and entirely volatile. 



3. Analysis of the acid and salts^. 



When solution of the pure acid was subjected to the Voltaic 

 battery, oxygen and hydrogen gases Were evolved in thdr 

 pure state : no solid matter separated, but the solutibh 

 became of a deep yellow colour at the positive pole, occa- 

 sioned by the evolution of fre6 sulphuric acid,' which re-acted 

 upon the hydro-carbon. A solution of the bai^tic salts gave 

 similar results. 



■ The analytical experiments upon the composition of this 

 acid and its salts were made principally with the compound 

 of baryta. This was found to be very constant in composi- 

 tion, could be obtained anhydrous at moderate temperatures, 

 and yet sustained a high temperature before it suffered any 

 change. 



A portion of the piite salt was prepared and dried for 

 some hours on the sand bath, at a'tempei'ature aboiit 212°. 

 Known weights were then heatied in a platinum crucible fo 

 dissipate and burn off the combustible matter; and the 

 residuum being moistened with sulphuric acid to decompose 

 any sulphuret of barium formed, was heated to convert it 

 int6 a fiiire sulphate of baryta. The results obtained were 

 very constant, and amounted to 41.714 of sulphate of baryta 

 per cent, of salt used, equivalent to 27.57 baryta per cent. 



Other portions of the salt were decomposed by being 

 heated in a flask with strong nitro-muriatic acid, so as to 

 liberate the sulphuric acid from the carbon and hydrogen 

 pi-esent, and yet retain it in the state of acid. Muriate of 



