PROOFS OF THE PROPERTIES OF MAGNESIA.

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SECT. II.

EXPERIMENTAL PROOFS

OF

THE PROPERTIES OF MAGNESIA.

Experiment I.

Magnesia converts vegetalle Hues into green.

Mix one part of magnesia with six of water, shake the mix-ture for a few minutes, and then separate the water by filtration.If. this water be mingled with a pale blue mixture of cabbage, thefluid will instantly become green.

Magnesia resembles in this respect the alcalies, and hence ithas been classed by some chemists amongst these bodies. Itseems to form the link which unites the earths with the alcalies.

Experiment II.

Mugnesia does not form an adhesive mass with ivater.

If magnesia and water be mixed together, no adhesive or duc-tile mass can be obtained. It is capable however of retainingthis fluid very obstinately; for if 100 parts of magnesia are throwninto water and then dried, its weight is increased to about 118.