56 J. L. Smith on determining the Alkalies in Minerals. 
accuracy in their results, for I have reason to believe it rare to 
the air, and dissolves the double chlorid of sodium and platinum, 
or prevents altogether its formation into recognizable crystals. 
These investigations have added nothing to what is already 
known concerning the detection of lithia mixed with soda and 
potash ; the plan invariably adopted, is to treat the mixed chlorids 
with a solution of alcohol and ether, and examine the part dis- 
solved, by the blowpipe; details as to the manner of using the 
alcohol and cther solution are given under the next head. 
Separation of the Alkalies from each other. 
43. Under this head I have nothing to add to what is already 
known on the subject: it may be well, however, to mention the 
manner in which Rammelsburg’s method of separating lithia has 
been employed, as it has not yet been fairly tested in this country- 
His method, it is well known, is based on the solubility of the 
chlorid of lithium in a mixture of equal parts of absolute alcohol 
and ether, neither of the other chlorids being dissolved by this 
menstruum. A number of experiments were made on known 
quantities of the alkalies, and the results of some of them are as 
follows: 
a. 500 milligrm. chlorid of potassium treated with the mixture 
of ether and alcohol, ten grammes of the latter being used, yielded 
only ;°; of a milligramme to the liquid, 
ee ee ee 
Poe re se cmegean 
