MINERALOGY. 127 



them in folution; which quality is called Criftal- 

 lifation *. 



SECT- CXX. 



In regard to the known principal circumftances 

 or qualities of the mineral falts, they are divided 

 into 



1. Acid Saks, or Mineral Acids, Salia Acida. 



2. Alcaline Saks, or Mineral Alcalis, Salia 

 Alcalina. 



The First Order. 



Acid Salts, Salia Adda. 



The characters of thefe falts are, that 

 they, 



1. Have a four tafte. 



2. Are corrofive-, that is to fay, have a power 

 of difiblving a great number of bodies. 



* No ether falts ought to be considered and ranked in a 

 mineral fyftem, but thofe which are found natural in the 

 earth (Sedl. i.) ; and fcr this reafon a great number of falts 

 will be in vain looked for here, viz. all fuch as are either na- 

 tural or prepared by art in the ether two kingdoms of nature, 

 and from fubilances belonging to them. Amongft thefe is 

 nitre itfelf, and its acid, and the vegetable acid, fince thefe 

 are never had from true mineral bodies ; nor is it demonflrated, 

 that they have their origin from the true mineral vitriolic 

 and muriatic acids. There have, indeed, been many attempts 

 made to reduce moil of them to a vitriolic acid, which by- 

 many is called the unive-i'al acid : but experiments will not 

 agree with it ; at leaft nobody has yet been able, by uniting 

 a phlogiilon with another acid than the true vitriolic, to 

 produce any fubilar.ee in every particular refembling the true 

 brimilore, or fulphnr. For this reafon I cannot yet give my 

 pfTervt to Doctor Pietich'i opinion, who endeavours to prove, 

 that the acid of nitre is derived from the vitriolic acid, that is, 

 before his theory is confirmed by experience in the large way, 

 *r.d the analyfis ha', been more plainly laid open: but I think 



the 



