MANUFACTURE OF OXALIC ACID. 65 
bottle, containing a solution of ammonia ; this bottle was 
connected by a tube, with another of the same size and 
form, containing a solution of nitrate of lime, from which 
an exit, tube passed, which dipped under water, and 
allowed the escape of the incondensible gaseous matter. 
The temperature of the water-bath was maintained as 
nearly as possible at 125° Fahr., for forty-eight hours in 
each experiment, after which the solution of oxalic acid 
was set aside for two days to crystallize. The crystals were 
allowed to effloresce in a drying stove, so as to remove all 
excess of nitric acid ; they were then dissolved, recrystal- 
lized, dried and weighed. 
The amount of carbonic acid was determined by mixing 
the solutions of ammonia and nitrate of lime after each ex- 
periment, allowing the carbonate of lime to settle for 
twenty-four hours, after which it was washed, dried, and 
weighed. The sugar employed was the best refined white, 
and it lost nothing in weight by prolonged exposure to a 
temperature of 212°. The nitric acid was pure, and of 
specific gravity 1.245 at 60° ; it contained as nearly as pos- 
sible, one-third of its weight of dry acid, as was proved by 
the amount of pure carbonate of soda which it neutralized. 
The following stable exhibits the results of eight experi- 
ments, showing the amount of sugar and dilute nitric acid 
employed, and the quantity of oxalic acid and carbonic 
acid produced. The liquor from the receiver and the 
mother-liquor of each experiment being added to the one 
following : 
EMPLOYED. 
A , 
OBTAINED. 
-A- 
r 
r 
Sugar 
Dil. Nitric Acid 
Oxalic Acid 
Carbonic Acid 
in ounces. 
in ounces. 
in ounces. 
in ounces. 
1 
28 
184 
m 
20i 
2 
28 
184 
32i 
22i 
3 
28 
184 
30 
21 
4 
28 
184 
29* 
- - 2H 
5 
28 
184 
3U 
22 
6 
28 
184 
30i 
21 
7 
28 
184 
30i 
- - 21| 
8 
28 
184 
31 
2H 
6 
