90 



ON OXlirC ACID, 



weights of the elementary atoms be ascertained with more 

 rigid accuracy, tiian has hitherto been done. I satisfied my- 

 self with taking the nearest round numbers, which are suf- 

 ficient at least to show an evident approximation to the pro- 

 portions obtained by experiment. 



Composition of 

 sugar and for- 

 snation of 

 »xalic acid. 



200 grains of 

 sugar treated 

 with nitric 

 acid. 



i\f) ^ains of 

 oxalic acid 

 produced. 



v. Composition of Sugar, and Formation of Oxalic Acid, 



When a compound body is decomposed, and resolved into 

 a number of new substances, the products are almost al- 

 ways simpler, or consist of integrant particles composed of 

 fewer atoms than the integrant particles of the original 

 body. Thus, though oxalic acid is composed of 9 atoms, 

 none of the products evolved, when that acid is decomposed 

 by heat, contain more than 3 atoms. Hence it is probable, 

 that sugar is a more compound body than oxalic acid, be« 

 cause nitric acid resolves it into a variety of new compounds, 

 one of which is oxalic acid. It may be worth while to ex- 

 amine the action of nitric acid on sugar, and the tormati« a 

 of oxalic acid, more closely than has hitherto been done, as 

 the investigation will furnish some data for estimating the 

 composition of sugar. 



Two hundred grains of pure crystallized sugar, being 

 treated with diluted nitric acid in the usual way, yielded 

 200 cubic inches of carbonic acid, 64 cubic inches of nitrous 

 gas, and 70 cubic inches of azotic gas, But these numbers, 

 though the result of a good many experiments, are not to be 

 considered as very exact. The uncertainty depends upon 

 the property, which the solution has ©f producing more 

 gas after the sugar is decomposed, at the expense of the 

 oxalic acid formed. JMow it is difficult to stop at the pre* 

 cise point. 



The whole weight of oxalic acid, which can be obtaine4 

 from 200 grains of sugar, amounts to II6 grains. If the 

 experiment be properly conducted, the whole of the sugaj 

 is decomposed, or at least the quantity of residuary mattey 

 is small. 



From the preceding statement, there is reason to cpnclwde, 

 that 100 grains of sugar, whea decomposed by nitric acjd, 

 yield, 



1. Ox»Up 



