23^ OXALIC ACID IN RIIUSAUB. 



The precipitate produced in it by acetate of lead is of a 



yellowish white. 



That by nitrate of mercury is white, and in a great aiea- 



sure soluble in nitiic acid. 



Nitrate of silver produces the same phenomena. 



Muriate of tin gives a yellow j)recii)ilate with it. 



Contains a free These preliminary trials show : 1, that a free acid exist* 



scid analogous in the plant: 2, that this acid is analoeous to the oxalic, 

 to the uxaiic. , . , . , , , , . . ,.',., 



which IS (femonstrated by the precipitates obtained with 



limewater and muriate of lime : 3, that the oxides of lead 

 and tin seize on a colouring e>:tractive matter: 4, that this 

 juice holds no calcareous salt in solution, since no precipi- 

 tate is produced in it either by the pure alkalis, or their car- 

 bonates, or oxalate of ammonia. 

 The juice, dis- Desirous of ascertaining whether any volatile acid existed 

 ^^^'^^- in this liquor, we distilled the filtered juice in a retort on a 



stnid-heat. What came over was a perfectly clear water 

 Ko acid came with a slight aromatic smell, not acid, and yielding but a 

 *^^"'' slight precipitate with acetate of lead, which precipitate was 



soluble in nitric acid. We perceived no effect from li:ne- 

 water, baryteswater, or muriate of tin. 

 Kesidiium What remained in the retort was evaporated slowly till it 



had acquired nearly the consistence of a sirup. At the ex- 

 piration of four and twenty hours a pretty large quantity of 

 fcontained small crystals were found at the bottom of the saucer, which, 

 iuperoxalate when separated and washed, exhibited all the characteristics 



of acidulous oxalate of potash. 

 tndsomeacid The supernatant fluid was highcoloured, and yielded no 

 more crystals by evaporation. It contained scarcely any 

 more oxalic acid, for it formed no sensible precipitate 

 either with limewater or muriate of lime, yet it was very 

 sour. 

 prohabiy tj^ Though the distillation of the juice, as mentioned above, 

 acetous. yielded no acetic acid, we are inclined to believe, that this 



■ acid exists combined, or retained by the colouring extrac- 

 tive matter, as is the case with the juices of a great number 

 of plants. 

 Theusi'hium "^^^^ evaporated mass reduced to the state of powder we 

 dried, and digested io alcohol at 40. The alcohol acquired a light 

 alcohoi.^^" yellow tinge, and was acid ; but the acid was not the oxalic. 



Indeed 



