Page:Transactions of the Geological Society, 1st series, vol. 1.djvu/246



3. It was therefore necessary to separate the iron previous to the precipitation of the lime. This was done in one instance by prussiat of potash, and in another by succinat of ammonia. I shall not trouble the society with the detail of these operations. It will be sufficient to state, that the two most unexceptionable experiments indicated the one 8 grains, and the other 8,3 grains of oxalat of lime, dried at 160°, for each pint of the water, making an average of 8,15 grains of oxalat of lime, or 10,17 grains of sulphat of lime dried at 160°; or 7,94 grains of the same salt dried at a red heat.

1. Having ascertained (§ III. k), that a small quantity of muriatic acid was present in the water, it became desirable, before proceeding any farther, to discover, by the agency of alcohol, which has the well known property of dissolving the earthy muriats, with what bases this acid was combined. With this view, 20 grains of residue were digested in successive quantities of alcohol of great purity, and the solution filtered. The residue, by this operation, acquired a lighter colour and a more pulverulent appearance. Part