ALUMINOUS CHALYBEATE SPRING IN I. OF WIGHT. gQ 



Sect. XI. Inferences obtained from the application of 

 Alcohol. 



1. Having ascertained (sect. Ill, k), that a small quantity Examination 

 „".•.., ,, . , j for muriates by 



or muriatic acid was present in the water, it became de- a i C0 ^ o j 



sirable, before proceeding any farther, to discover, by the 

 agency of alcohol, which has the well known property of 

 dissolving the earthy muriates, with what bases this acid 

 was combined. With this view, 20 grains of residue were 

 digested in successive quantities of alcohol of great purity, 

 and the solution filtered. The residue, by this operation, 

 acquired a lighter colour and a more pulverulent appear- 

 ance. Part of this residue being treated with muriatic acid 

 and oxalate of ammonia, oxalate of lime was precipitated; 

 and another portion being treated with neutral carbonate of 

 ammonia and phosphate of soda, some magnesia was pre- 

 cipitated in the form of triple phosphate, circumstances 

 which confirmed the presence of lime in the form of selenite, 

 and that of magnesia, in the form of sulphate or Epsom 

 salt. 



2 t The alcoholic solution being evaporated to dryness, 

 a yellowish deliquescent residue was obtained, which, being 

 dried at l60°, weighed 0*0 of a grain. Water being added 

 to this residue, a small portion of it remained undissolved. 

 The filtered watery solution was yellowish, though per- 

 fectly transparent, and, being examined by the usual 

 reagents, appeared to contain iron, sulphuric acid, and mu- 

 riatic acid, with imponderable vestiges of lime and mag- 

 nesia, without any tract- of lumine 



3. From these circumstances it was inferred, that the Results, 

 only deliquescent salts ielded by the residue, in ascertain- 

 able quantities, were sulphate of iron, and muriate of iron, 

 both of which had probably been formed if consequence of 

 some new orders of attraction taking place during the pro- 

 cess of evaporation to which the water had been subjected*. 



Sect. 



(which he finds to be equal to 128 grs. diiefl at l6o - ), give 102'5 grs. 

 of oxalate of lime dried at i6o° s corresp nded to 124 grs. of sulphate 

 of lime dried at the same temperature [See Journ. vol. XXVI. p. S7'S.l 

 * Namely, the re sulphate from the h peroxigc^nation of the 

 iron, and the muriate from the decomposition of muriate of soda^ as 

 v ill he explained hereafter. 



