so Mr Herschel m the H^jposulphurous Acid. 
finite state as to dryness, rendered them unavailing. In a dry 
state it would be composed of 1 atom ammonia =21.65 -|-S atoms 
acid =60. 
Hyposulphite (^Baryta . — This salt piecipitates copiously Avhen 
muriate of baryta is poured into a solution, not very dilute, of hy- 
posulphite of lime. The precipitate thus obtained from 500 grains 
of the standard solution, amounted, after thorough washing, to 
101.92 grains ; while, calculating on the supposition of its being 
anhydrous, and composed of B -j- 2 . (S + O) it should have 
been 102.76 : The difference, 0.84 is attributable partly to the 
unavoidable use of the filter, and partly to the solubility of the 
precipitate, which, though small, is perceptible. The salt so ob- 
tained is a white, brilliant, scaly powder, which is soluble in di- 
lute muriatic acid, without the evolution of sulphur, and conse- 
quently without decomposition. It would not dissolve in 2000 
parts water ; but, however often it is washed with that hquid, 
the washings continue to strike a deep brown4)lack, with nitrate 
of mercury. When the solutions from which it is to l>e preci- 
pitated are mixed in a somewhat dilute state, as in the case of a 
solution containing hyposulphite of lime, some minutes elapse 
before any precipitation or cloudiness commences ; small cry- 
stalline grains then form, which are speedily followed, on brisk 
agitation, by a copious separation of the barytic salt. When 
heated on a platina foil, it is thrown into a singular agitation, 
and seems enveloped in a kind of fog, caused by its own dust 
thrown up in an infinite number of minute explosions. It takes 
fire at a very low heat, and sulphur burns off. 
Hyposulphite of Strontia . — When muriate of strontia is 
poured into hyposulphite of lime, no precipitate falls ; and this 
is, in consequence, a soluble salt. I prepared it by passing a 
current of sulphurous acid gas dirough a solution of hydrogu- 
retted sulphuret of strontia, and evaporating. It does not suf- 
fer partial decomposition, like hyposulphite of lime, during 
this process, or in a very slight degree. It crystallizes, on 
cooling, in flat rhombs, having the plain angles of their more 
extended surfaces about 64° 45' and 115° 15', but whose solid 
form is that of an oblique parallelopiped, whose sides are in- 
clined to each other at angles of about 76° 3G', 96° 45', and 
97° IS'. It is doubly refractive ; a thin rhomb laid down on. 
