©N OXAtIC ACIBf pj 



Grains. 



1, Oxalic add crystals 58 grains, or real acid* • 45 Oxalicandcar- 



2. Carbonicac.d lOpcubic inches, equivalentto 46-5: ^^^^''^ ^^'^^* 



while there are evolved obviously, by the decomposition of 

 the nitric acid. 



Grains. 



1. Azotic gas 35 cubic inches, equivalent to 10-62 



2. Nitrous gas 32 cubicinches, equivalent to 10*85 



Now, as nitric acid contains no carbon, it is obvious, 

 that the oxalic acid formed, and the carbonic acid evolved, 

 must contain the whole carbon contained in 100 grains of 

 sugar. 



Grains. 



45 grains of oxalic acid contain of ca'bon 14*40 

 46*5 grains of carbonic acid contain of ditto 13*02 



Total 27-42 



therefore 100 grains of sugar contain 27f grains of carbon, loo suear con. 



The azotic gas and nitrous gas mubt have been originally tain 27 5 ear- 

 in the state of nitric acid, and must have given out oxigen °"'' 

 y/het) they were evolved. But nitric acid is composed of 



Oxigen. 

 Azote... 10-62 4- 25 



Nitrous gas •«..•• • • • • 10*85 + 4*5 



2i,*5 



Therefore they must have parted with 29*5 grains of oxi- 

 gen. We are at liberty to suppose, that the whole of this 

 pxigen went to the formation of carbonic acid. Now, 46*5 

 grains of carbonic acid are composed of 



Grains. 

 Oxigen • 38-5 



Carbon. ........... 13-0 



46*5 



From this it appears, that in the carbonic acid there were Apparent sur- 

 4 grains of oxigen more than was furnished by the nitric P'"^ of o^^" 

 acid. I confess I am disposed to ascribe this surplus to er- 

 ro'urs in the experiments, and to believe, that the whole of 

 fhe oxigen of the carbonic acid was furnished by the nitric 



acid. 



