AMjUnTi, SM  }  An  Adulteration  of  Cream  of  Tartar.  259 
been  wet  and  dried,  and  in  color  yellowish  white.  I  treated  it  with 
ammonia,  and  found  a  large  per  cent,  was  insoluble.  This  ammoni- 
acal  solution  was  treated  with  chloride  of  barium,  whereby  a  precipi- 
tate was  obtained  which  was  not  entirely  soluble  in  boiling  nitric  acid  ; 
the  insoluble  portion  contained  sulphuric  acid,  which  no  doubt  had 
been  united  with  aluminum,  in  the  form  of  common  alum. 
The  insoluble  portion  of  treatment  No.  1  was  next  treated  with 
acetic  acid,  which  dissolved  part  of  the  deposit.  Hydrochloric  acid 
was  then  added  to  the  acetic  solution,  which  made  a  clear  solution. 
Acetate  of  sodium  was  added  to  get  rid  of  the  hydrochloric  acid  and 
replace  it  by  free  acetic  acid.  This  acetic  solution  was  treated  with 
oxalate  of  ammonium,  yielding  a  precipitate  of  oxalate  of  calcium, 
which  was  insoluble  in  acetic  acid,  but  readily  soluble  in  hydro- 
chloric acid ;  a  second  portion  of  the  acetic  acid  solution  was 
acted  on  with  ammonia,  which  caused  a  gelatinous  white  precipi- 
tate, proving  the  presence  of  aluminum.  The  residue  left  after 
treatment  with  ammonia  and  acetic  acid,  was  treated  with  hydrochlo- 
ric acid,  results  in  solution  of  chloride  of  aluminum  and  tartrate  of 
calcium,  with  a  small  residue.  This  residue  was  treated  with  tincture 
of  iodine,  which  instantly  produced  a  blue  color  characteristic  of 
iodide  of  amylum,  and  by  drying  and  burning,  a  mere  trace  of  ash 
was  left, 
I  might  state  here  that  the  original  cream  of  tartar,  when  treated 
with  carbonate  of  potassium,  evolved  ammonia,  recognized  by  its  odor, 
also  by  browning  turmeric  proper,  and  giving  white  clouds  with  acetic 
acid.   From  the  above  process  adopted,  the  following  is  the  result : — 
I.  Treatment  with  ammonia  : — 
1.  Bitartrate  of  potassium  is  dissolved  ;  also  sulphuric  acid  (of 
alum),  removed  as  sulphate  of  ammonium. 
2.  Precipitate  contains  starch,  tartrate  of  calcium,  and  hydrate 
of  aluminum. 
II.  Treatment  of  2  with  acetic  acid  : — 
3.  Solution  containing  aluminum  and  tartrate  of  calcium. 
4.  Residue :  starch,  tart,  of  calcium  and  hydrate  of  aluminum. 
III.  Treatment  of  4  with  HOL,  results — 
5.  In  solution  all  chloride  of  aluminum  and  tartrate  of  calcium. 
6.  Residue  :  starch. 
IV.  Addition  of  acetate  of  sodium  to  5  : — 
7.  The  solution  remains  clear,  but  is  precipitated  by  ammonia, 
