Sif APPENDIX. 



N 



ANALYSIS OF A MINERAL WATER. 

 By Jame> Prinsep, Esgk 25th June, 1828. 



Having heard that tlie water of the Bridhkal kund (a well in the city of Benares) 

 possessed slightly aperient medicinal properties when taken in large draughts, I 

 procured a bottle full of it to submit to chemical analysis- 



1. The water was clear, devoid of smell, and yielded no traces of iron. 



2. Its specific gravity was 1005,9 at the temperature 92". 



3. 1000 grains weight left on evaporation to dryness 7.4 grains of deliquescent 

 salts, of which alcohol dissolved 5.G and the remainder proved to be carbonate of 

 lime and a soluble sulphate. 



4. The alcoholic solution manifested traces of muriatic acid magnesia, and by a 

 simple test suggested by Woollaston, nitric acid. His method is this, to concentrate 

 the solution of salts, and pour it into a test tube with a bit of gold leaf, warm it, 

 and add a drop of sulphuric acid ; if any nitrate accompanies the muriates, aquare- 

 gia is at once formed and the metal dissolved. I used platina foil in lieu of gold, 

 since it has the advantage of telling whether the nitrate be of potash or soda ; if th© 

 former, the metal is no sooner dissolved than a yellow powder precipitates. 



5. The quantity of such acids and bases as were precipitable, were determined in 

 different portions of water — 1000 grains being taken for each, thus ; 



Nitrate of Barytes threw down Sulph. acid, ...... 0.32 Grains. 



Nitrate of Silver, .... .... Muriatic acid, 1.90 



Oxalate of Ammonia, .....'. Lime, .... .... 0.75 



Ammonia a ;d Phosphoric acid (after the separation of the Lime) 

 gave Magnesia, 0.32 



6. The carbonic acid estimated from the Lime, amounted to .... 0.58 Grains. 



7. The whole contents therefore of 1000 grains of the water may be thus stated ; 



t Carbonate of Lime, .'. 1 .33 Grains. 



Not taken up by Alcohol < nm „ 



\ Sulphate of Soda, 0.75 



