ON OXALIC ACID. g^ 



Now it is clear, that the 89 grains of oxalate of lime were 

 composed of 



Lime 33'4 



Acid 55-6 



89-0 



The acid was completely decomposed and resolved into the - 

 followmg products: 



Carbonic acid • • • • 33*1 Products of 



Inflammable air •• 13-5 55-6 grs. of 



acid. 

 Water C-4 



Charcoal 2'G 



55-6 



Had the experime^nt been made upon 100 grains of oxalic 

 acid instead of 55'6, it is clear, that the proportions would ' 



have been as follows. 



Carbonic acid • • • • 59*53 Proportions of 



,£,,,. ^ ICO parts. 



Inflammable an-«» 24*28 ^ 



Water 11-51 



Charcoal 4'G8 



100-00 



The most remarkable circumstance attending the decom- 

 position of oxali<: acid by heat is the great proportion of 

 carbonic acid formed ; the quantity amounts to 6 tenths of 

 the whole weight of acid decomposed. 



As tlie composition of all these products of oxalic acid is Constituent 

 known with considerable accuracy, it is obvious, that they R^'^^^J.^j^'^* ^ 

 furnish us with the means of ascertaining the constituents 

 of that acid itself. 



69*53 grains of carbonic acid are composed of 



Grains. 



Oxigen 42*86 



Carbon 16-67 



59*53 



S4-28 



