1 42 BromuiG in Saratoga Waters. 



Art. XXVI. — L Bromine in American Saline Waters. 



1 . Hydro-bromic Acid and Potash in the Saratoga Springs.— 



A. A. Hayes. 



2. Bromine in the waters of Salina. — Editor. 



The discovery of iodine with bromine, in some of the salt springs 

 of England by Dr. Daubeny,* induced me to examine analytically, 

 the saline contents of the Saratoga waters, in which, the presence of 

 iodine has lately been announced, by Drs. Usher and Steel. The evi- 

 dence which I have of the existence of hydro-bromic acid and potash 

 in these waters, rests on the results of the experiments in detail. 



I. A portion of the dry saline matter left after evaporating a large 

 quantity of the water, was boiled with a few ounces of pure water in 

 a vessel of glass, the clear liquor being decanted from the undissolved 

 salt was evaporated, and the hydro-chlorate of soda crystallized out, till 

 its bulk was much reduced and it had assumed a slightly yellow color ; 

 it was tested for metals, by hydro-sulphate of ammonia ; and for earths, 

 by carbonate of soda, assisted by heat ; neither was discovered. A 

 slight excess of carbonate of soda, rendered it colorless j when neu- 

 tralized its yellow tint appeared. 



II. To a part of solution I. a minute portion of soda was added, 

 the slightly alkahne solution was mixed with its bulk of a weak solu- 

 tion of starch, and a drop of sulphuric acid introduced beneath the fluid, 

 developed a violet color at the point where it was in contact with 

 the hquor ; a bubble of chlorine,f then caused the appearance of a 

 deep blue, voluminous ioduret of starch. The mixture was exposed 

 to a stream of chlorine issuing from a small tube, the whole became 

 colorless, then deep orange yellow. 



III. A part of the solution I. was placed in a suitable vessel, and a 

 few bubbles of chlorine passed into it ; the color rapidly deepened and 

 became of a fine orange tint. Pure sulphuric ether by agitation with the 

 solution, dissolved the coloring substances and became reddish brown, 

 reposing on the now colorless fluid below it. The etherial solution 

 was withdrawn, and a drop of solution of potash added to it, the 

 color instantly disappeared, and a clear neutral solution remained. 



* Phil. Mag. No. XXXIII. 



t M. Balard has proposed the sokitioii of chlorine in water; great care is neces- 

 .■sary to prevent mixing the solutions in this case, and it is far more satisfactory to use 

 the pure gas. 



