Chap. II.
COMPOSITION AND USE OF MINERALS.
651
Sulphate of Soda. — Glauber’s salt is a natural product present in many mineral waters.Dry sulphate of soda 1 - 72 - 44-4
Water
- 10
1
90
162
55-6
100-0
Carbonate of Soda is a very important salt, obtained by burning sea plants, the ashesof which produce the alkali called soda. Its specific gravity in the crystalline form is1 ’62 ; it is soluble in twice its weight of water at 60°, and in less than its own weightat 212°.
Soda
_
1
32
-
22-25
Carbonic acid
-
1
22
-
15 -25
Water
-
- 10
90
-
62-50
i
144
100-00
It is manufactured in large quantities by heating carbonate of lime, charcoal, andsulphate of soda, the charcoal tending to produce sulphuret of sodium, and the lime toremove sulphur or sulphuric acid. The carbonic acid of the carbonate of lime, and thatfrom the flame of the furnace, being made to pass over the soda, give it the carbonic acid.It is then crystallised.
Borate of Soda, Borax , is soluble in 20 parts of water at 60°, and in six parts of boilingwater ; at a red heat it forms a transparent glass, which by exposure to the air becomesopaque : the anhydrous borax consists of
Soda
- 1
32
-
31-4
Boracic acid
- 1
68
-
68-6
1
100
100 0
ed borax.
Soda
1
32
-
16-85
Boracic acid
1
68
-
35-80
Water
- 10
90
-
47-35
1
190
100-00
Lithium, when first discovered, was supposed to be soda, but differs from it, and haspeculiar properties. Lithia, or protoxide of lithium, is not very soluble in water, and con-verts vegetable blues green.
Barium is metallic and of a dark grey colour, heavier than water, and attracts oxy-gen with great rapidity. Its specific gravity is 2°, and when gently heated, burns witha red light.
Oxide of Barium , Baryta , is the heaviest of all the earths, its specific gravity being 4,and in all its leading properties bears a strong resemblance to lime. It is poisonous, asare all its compounds. Carbonic acid has a much greater attraction for baryta than forlime.
Barium
- 1
69
89*6
Oxygen
- 1
8
J0-4
1
77
100 0
Nitrate of Baryta is composed of
- 1
77
58-7
Nitric acid -
- 1
54
41-3
1
131
100 0
Sulphate of Baryta, or Heavy Spar, is found in great abundance in nature; when heatedit decrepitates, and at a very high temperature is fused into a white enamel. It is harderthan carbonate of lime, but not so hard as fluor spar. Its specific gravity is 4 7.
Sulphate of baryta in an anhydrous
state consists of
Baryta
- 1
-
77
63-8
Sulphuric acid
- 1
-
40
34-2
1
117
1000
Carbonate of Baryta is nlso poisonous.
Baryta
- 1
-
77
77-7
Carbonic acid
- 1
-
22
22-3
1
99
100 0