ANALYSIS OF MINERAL WATERS. 265 



with diluted muriatic acid, and whether it is entirely dissolved. 

 If it is, the precipitate is of course carbonate of barytes, the 

 weight of which, when it is dried, gives the quantity of carbo- 

 nic acid ; 100 grains containing 22 of acid. If it do not ef- 

 fervesce, it is sulphate of barytes, the weight of which, in lrke 

 manner, gives the quantity of sulphuric acid ; 100 grains, dried 

 at a low red-heat, containing 34 of acid. If it effervesce, and 

 is partially dissolved, it consists both of carbonate and sul- 

 phate. To ascertain the proportions of these, let the precipi- 

 tate be dried at a heat a little inferior to redness, and weigh- 

 ed ; then submit it to the action of dilute muriatic acid ; after 

 this wash it with water, and dry it by a similar heat, its weight 

 will give the quantity of sulphate, and the loss of weight, that 

 of carbonate of barytes. 



By this operation the carbonic and sulphuric acids are en- 

 tirely removed, and the whole salts in the water are converted 

 into muriates. It remains, therefore, first to discover and esti- 

 mate the quantities of the bases present, and then, to complete 

 the analysis, to find the quantity of muriatic acid originally 

 contained. 



Add to the clear liquor a saturated solution of oxalate of 

 ammonia as long as any turbid appearance is produced. The 

 lime will be thrown down in the state of oxalate. The preci- 

 pitate being washed, may be dried, but as it cannot be expo- 

 sed to a red-heat without decomposition, it can scarcely be 

 brought to any uniform state of dryness with sufficient accura- 

 cy to admit of the quantity of lime being estimated from its 

 weight. It is therefore to be calcined with a low red heat, by 

 which it is converted into carbonate of lime, 100 grains of 

 which are equivalent to 56 of lime. But as a portion of car- 

 bonic acid may be expelled, if the heat is raised too high, or a 

 little water retained if it is not high enough ; it is proper to 

 Vol. VIII. P. I. L T convert 



