ACIDS PRODUCSD FROM GINGER. IJQ 



Exp. 3. To nitric acid, as used in the above experi- Attempt to ob- 

 ments, white lead was added until effervebcence ceased to ^^I" ^'"^.v^'^m 

 be produced; and to this liquor sulphuric acid was added ginger, 

 until it ceased to throw down any precipitate; tlien the li- 

 quor was filtered, and sulphuric acid again added without 

 regard to quantit)-. In half an hour crystals were observed 

 depositing*, and when the deposition had ceased they were 

 separated, and fresh additions of sulphuric acid made to the 

 residuary liquor, so long as any crystals could be obtained. 

 The crystallized matter [e] obtained in this experiment pre- 

 cisely resembled in appearance the crystals [b] in Exp. 1, 

 and [d] in Exp. 2. 



Properties of the crystallized matter obtained in the above 

 experiments. 



The products (a), (6), (c), [d], and [e], were of a white properties of 

 colour, crystals filiform, or capillary; the crystals of (*), *„^attcn^''"^^''* 

 (d), and [e], were longer, more slender, and more flexible 

 than those of (c) and (a) Taste of all the crystallized pro- 

 ducts insipid. 



The crystallized matters [a], (6), and (c), were examined 

 separately, and found to have the following chemical pro- 

 perties in common f. On exposure to a red heat they de- 

 crepitate slightly, become friable, more opake, diffusible in 

 water, and when in a certain proportion dry qviickly into a 

 solid mass. They are sparingly soluble in water, the solu- 

 tion gives a dense white precipitate with barytic water, and. 

 also with oxalic acid a dense white precipitate insoluble in 

 vinegar. 



From these properties I infer, that the crystallized mat- Sulphate of 

 ter obtained in the above experiments is sulphate of lime, lime: butthi* 

 and must have originated from substituting white lead of ^°g^,g"^gd the 

 the shops for carbonate of lead ; however the mixture of fonaauon. of 



zingiberic acid* 



* The fact of sulphuric acid causing the deposition of sulphate of 

 lime from a state of solution to me is not a little surprising, however it 

 may perhaps be well known to those more Tcrsed ir. chemical experi- 

 ments, and in no manner puzzling. B. 



f As the experiments which led to the ascertaining of these properties 

 can be of no particular utility, I have omitted inserting them, B, 



N 2 carbonate 



