16 On ihe OxymurlaU of Lini£» [Ja?^* 



formed again by evaporating the water, either in crystals or in ^ 

 dry saline mass. This observation does not, however, apply to 

 oxymuriate of lime. Whenever a solution of oxymuriate of lime 

 is evaporated, part of the acid escapes, and the rest is mostly con- 

 verted into muriatic acid; so that instead of oxymuriate of lime, 

 muriate of lime is obtained. Hence the dry salt cannot be ob- 

 tained from the liquid solution. Mr. Tennant, of Glasgovi^, how- 

 ever, succeeded in obtaining the dry salt in a condensed and 

 portable form, by sending the acid gas into dry hydrate of lime, 

 as stated above. 



In whatever state we procure the oxymuriate of lime, it is 

 always found to be accompanied by a portion of muriate of lime; 

 this portion too increases with the age of the oxymuriate, and is 

 furnished at its expense. It becomes a primary object of analysis 

 then to ascertain how much of any given specimen is muriate, 

 and how much oxymuriate ; especially as the former is of no use 

 in effecting the purposes for which the latter is applied. 



The following experiments are selected out of a very great 

 number which were made, as best calculated to show the pro- 

 perties of the article in question. 



ExPEii. I. — One hundred grains of recent dry oxymuriate 

 of lime were exposed to a low red heat in an iron spoon. The 

 loss was 32i- grains. To the residuum water was added, and a 

 solution of 535 grain measures of 1*055 sp. gr. was obtained, and 

 further an insoluble residuum of 30 grains. The solution was 

 found to be muriate of lime, and consequently consisted of 16 

 muriatic acid and 18 lime. The residuum was dissolved in 

 muriatic acid, and formed a solution indicating 21 lime; a small 

 portion of carbonic acid was given off, but not of any amount. 

 No trace of oxymuriatic acid could be found after the salt had 

 been heated. 



Hence we learn, that 100 grains of dry oxymuriate of lime 

 contain 39 grains of lime, combined and uncombined ; and that 

 by a low red heat, all the oxymuriatic acid is either driven off or 

 converted into muriatic acid. 



ExPER. II. — One hundred grains of the same specimen of 

 oxymuriate were added to upwards of 1000 grains of water ; -after 

 being stirred for some time, the liquid was filtered, and 1000 

 grain measures were obtained of the sp. gr. 1*034 ; I got also a 

 residuum which, dried in a moderate heat, gave 33 grains. This 

 last treated with muriatic acid, was dissolved, and indicated 18,V 

 lime. The liquid, vi^hich contained a mixture of oxymuriate and 

 muriate of lime, was treated with carbonate of soda, which con- 

 verted the whole of the lime into carbonate of lime. From the 

 quantity obtained it appeared, that the combined lime in the 



