220 



A partial solu- 

 tion of the sub- 

 stance in the. 

 retort effected. 



Carbon not 

 pure. 



The solution 

 possessed the 

 properties ge- 

 nerally of mu- 

 riaticandmaRc 

 acid. 



A small por- 

 tion of the a- 

 .cetic likewise 

 detected, or 

 rather the 

 pyromucous. 



ACTION. OF MURIATIC ACID ON SUGAB. 



riate of lead falls down ; and by employing a close filter 

 we may separate the insoluble muriate from the acetate, 

 which passes through the filter. By saturation with soda 

 the oxide is precipitated, and by evaporating the mother 

 water we obtain theacetate, or at least the apparent acetate, 

 dissoluble in rectified alcohol. The acid, which holds 

 the lead in solution, appears more susceptible of being 

 driven off" by heat than the acid of the common acetate; 

 for I have several times observed, that, when a solution of 

 lead in it is concentrated by evaporation, a pungent smell 

 is given off, and a yellow oxide is precipitated. 



3d. The residuum in the retort was detached by 1000 

 grs of water, added in quantities of 100 grs at a time, and 

 employing some agitation. A partial solution of this 

 substance was effected. 



4th. The substance insoluble being separated by the 

 filter, it appeared to be carbon, though when heated it gave 

 off gaseous inflammable matter. I have seen some sorts 

 of impure charcoal do the same, under similar circum- 

 stances*. 



5th. The solution, which passed through the filter, was 

 of the colour of red wine: its taste was acid, and it reddened 

 vegetable blues. The various reagents generally adopted 

 by our most emin«nt chemists did not indicate the presence 

 of any of the following acids, viz. the gallic, oxalic, tartaric, 

 and citric ; neither did the benzoic, suberic, succinic, or 

 camphoric exist in it. The only products, beside muriatic 

 acid and a little undecomposed sugar, were a large quantity 

 of malic and a traee of the acetic acid. To a known 

 quantity carbonate of lead was added to saturation; the 

 malate and muriate of lead were separated by the filter, 

 and the acetate passed through. The same evidence of 

 the presence of this acid was obtained as in sect. II. The 

 substance left on the filter was of a brown colour. After 



* The whole weight of this substance when perfectly dry would b« 

 about 36 grs. 10 grs, being heated red hot for some time, lost in 

 weight 4 grs. Therefore 36 grs would lose 144; 50 that, if we 

 could take into account all the carbonate in the product drawn off 

 by heat, the quantity would probably differ little from the statement 

 of Laroi^ier, viz. in 100 parts 28 grs. 



- being 



