On Oxalic Acid. 45 



Therefore they must have parted with 29*5 grains of oxy- 

 gen. We are at liberty to suppose that the whole of this 

 oxygen went to the formation of carbonic acid. Now, 46*5 

 grains of carbonic acid are composed of 



Grains. 

 Oxygen -» 33 "5 

 Carbon - 13-0 



46-5 



From this it appears, that in the carbonic acid there were 

 four grains of oxygen more than was furnished by the nitric 

 acid. I confess I am disposed to ascribe this surplus to 

 errors in the experiments, and to believe that the whole of 

 the oxygen of the carbonic acid was furnished by the nitric 

 acid. This being admitted, it follows that the carbon of 

 the carbonic acid, and the whole constituents in the oxalic 

 acid, were furnished by the sugar. These are as follows : 



Grains. 

 Carbon - - - 27*5 



Oxygen in 45 grains oxalic acid 28 # 8 

 Hvdrogen in ditto - 1*8 



58-1 



If this total be subtracted from the 100 grains of sugar used, 

 there will be a remainder of 41*9 grains. As this quantity of 

 the sugar has disappeared, and is no where to be found among 

 the products, we must suppose that it has assumed the form 

 of water. Now 41*9 grains of water are composed of 



Oxygen 35*9 



Hydrogen 6 



41-9 



Adding thse quantities to the preceding products, we obtain 

 the composition of sugar, as follows : 



Oxygen 64*7 



Carbon 27 '5 



Hydrogen 7*8 



100-0 



Though 



