OF SEA-WATER. 217 



riate of soda commenced, the liquor was poured off at intervals 

 from the salt deposited, and farther evaporated. This was con- 

 tinued as long as it appeared to afford no other salt on cool- 

 ing than muriate of soda. The latter products of this salt were 

 less pure than the first, being deliquescent on exposure to a 

 dry atmosphere ; they were therefore redissolved in water ; by 

 evaporation, the greater part was obtained crystallized, in a pu- 

 rer state, and was added to the other ; and the small portion 

 of residual liquor was added to the residual liquor of the eva- 

 porated sea- water. 



B. By farther evaporation, this liquor afforded crystals in 

 slender prisms, which were permanent in the air, and which 

 were found to be sulphate of magnesia ; by repeated evapora- 

 tions, successive crystallizations of this kind were produced, 

 (small portions of muriate of soda being also obtained, which, 

 after being washed, were added to the salt A) ; the products of 

 the first crystallizations were nearly pure ; those of the latter 

 crystallizations were less distinct in form, and were in part de- 

 liquescent. 



C. The portion of liquor still remaining was evaporated, 

 until, on cooling, it formed a congeries of slender prisms, 

 which, exposed to the air, deliquesced, and soon passed to a 

 state of perfect solution, a proof of their being principally mu- 

 riate of magnesia. 



The products thus obtained, consisted, first, of muriate of so- 

 da A ; secondly, of sulphate of magnesia B ; and, thirdly, of 

 muriate of magnesia C. These, however, could not be suppo- 

 sed to be pure, and they were, therefore, submitted to farther 

 examination. 



D. The muriate of soda A, gave indications of the intermix- 

 ture of magnesian salts ; the solution of a minute portion of 

 it in distilled water becoming turbid on the addition of carbo- 



Vol. VIII. P. I. £ e nate 



