ACTION OF MURIATIC ACID ON SUGAR. £21 



being well washed, a small quantity of dilute sulphuric 

 acid was poured upon it. The mixed sulphate of lead 

 and muriate were separated by the filter. What passed 

 through possessed the original brown colour, and u\ part 

 the acid taste; and had the properties of the malic acid, 

 though it was evidently mixed with a small quantity of the 

 muriatic. It is very difficult to separate these two acids 

 from each other, without resolving the malic into its 

 ultimate elements; the reagents being acted upon by each 

 somewhat alike, la the above case the acetate of lead 

 precipitated both the acids; and the sulphuric acid acted 

 not only upon the malate, but also on the muriate: con- 

 sequently instead of finding the malic acid singly, a mix- 

 ture of the malic acid and muriatic were found. A fact Curious fact: 

 which at first appeared somewhat puzzling to me was, that, on s . 01T,e of the 

 introducing a quantity of this fluid into a retort, and gently denied depo. 

 distilling, a large quantity of acid was found in the receiver; s,te d carbon, 

 which, examined nearly by the method just mentioned, py r0 mucous 

 appeared to be of the nature of the acetous. If we apply acid as a pro- 

 heat a long time to the carbonaceous matter, which is * 

 plentifully deposited during the distillation, so as to drive 

 off all the adhering acid; on macerating the dry mass in 

 water we do not find a solution of malic acid, but some- 

 times, under certain circumstances, something of the 

 remains of sugar*. This curious change is owing to the 

 presence of muriatic acid, as the following comparative 

 experiment will prove. 



I prepared some tolerably pure malic acid by bruising preparation of 

 the leaves of the sernpervivum tectorum (houstleek) along malic add 

 with a little water in an earthen mortar. The juicy mix- iiouseleelf. *" 

 tare thus obtained contained a considerable portion of 

 malate of lime. To remove the lime from the malate, a 

 solution of oxalic acid was added cautiously, and the small 

 excess was removed by lime water. The oxalate of lime Malic ac ;ddis- 

 was separated by a filter, and the liquid evaporated, till 't ullfd by itself 

 became sufficiently concentrated. About a drachm of it -° es ™t^ p °~ r 



J sif. rarnnn or 



sit caroon or 



* By returning the acid product into the retort, and. distilling 

 Huccessively several times, this substance gradually disappears alto- 

 gether, and the products are the acetous and muriatic acids and 

 carbon. 



