The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-11-23

IiciehSe 10 'ne common LimeSiou water.
In running along wooden channels, tn,
water deposits brownish yellow sediment
The same kind of ochrous sediment is seer
at the bottom of the spring. ard particular
~, on the sides OF the vessel through which
1t rises. blue sediment is also observed
on some parts of the same vessel, which
Is, probably, prussiate of iron. See Chap.
tai. Chap. 10.-Coscerning iron. Article
s,b.
Upon standing 70 or Is hours in an open
vessel, the water loses. in a great measure,
IT'S peculiar taste, becomes fat, and depo-
sits very small quantity Of brow nish sed.
| ment. II used as soon as it begins to boil,
1t is preferred in Cookery; but it the boil
ing be continued. it renders whatever is
mixed with it bitter and disagreeable.
EXPERIMENTS made, principally, at the
spring
!. The weight of the water, tried hytsrostat-
caiiy, with pair of scales, which turned readi
~ with the 9Th OF grain, appeared not to differ
rom ;hat OF the common limestone water, both
being nearly ofthe same temperature
q Silver IS not changed in colour, by pouring
the water upon 1t, or by a continuance for some
TIME IN the channel thro' which the water flows
ihere appears to be no sulphurated hydrogen
IN the water, from this Exp
/ 5. An infusion of tea, or any vegetable astr;n.
gent, strikes a browuish purple colour THE
same effect IS produced when the water has
| stooS in an open vessel for % hours and when
6oiied, the colour is much deeper--'rhis EXP
shows, that the water contains not only the oxyd
OF iron, but, that it is combined with suiphuric
acid and not the csrbonic.
Blue flowers strike lively green. when the
water is fresh, when it has stood So hours in an
| open vessel, and when it has been boiled The
presence of an alkaline substance is hereby indi
Gated; but, 1t is probable that the green colour
| IS produced by the lime contained in the water,
especially as the same result takes place in ANY
strong limestone water; when the same test is
| applied
5. The water is quickly curdled by soap--
Salt oftartar turns it milky. Ley INN ediately
turns It milky; large fiocks are formed, and a
considerable precipitate ersues of 4 grev,sh CO
| lour--All the results here mentioned take place
| after ebullition, and are more strongly marked
than before and hence justify the conclusion,
that the precipitate had been in combination with
| fixed rather than volatile acid
6. Upon mixing lime water with that of the
spring nearly in equal quantities, milkiness en-
| sues and whtish precipitate takes place.
q. Air, collected from the water BY boiling
Precipitated lime in lime water she wing that the
water does contain carbonic acid. But the o,an.
tity OF air collected from quart of water was
| very small No bubbles Of air rise in the sprinp
| Sulphuric acid, drop'd into the wster. prS.
dueed slight effervescence, and disengaged
some air, which was, no doubt, the carbonic a.
cid.
| 9. Lunar caustic produced no change in the
colour OF the water, shelving that it contained
| no marine salt.
10. 80 OF. Az. of the water, boiled to dry.
ness. yielded 90 grains of whtish sediment
! small chrystallized spiculse are seen shooting
4 from every part shining PARTICLES, of the sp
pearance of Mica, are abundant the taste of the
sediment is somewhat saline and bitterisb.--
These chrystals appear to be those of seieni,e
whilst the taste indicates the presence of epson
| salt.
II. The dried sediment agitated in lime wa
ter, takes from it its peculiar taste and thus
affords proof, that the sediment contains eli
Their carbonate, sulphate of magnesia for
those acids, the carbonc and sulphuric, having
a stronger affinity for lime, than for mapnes .
will desert the latter TO unite with tie form r
and thus constitute compound, either .nsoiuble
or difficulty soluble IN water. But when !, !,
recollected, that it may well be doubted, vbe
ther nature ever exhibits that combination, the
carbonate OF magnesia; and also, when this ex.
pertinent ia compared ;:.ai 0;.s,ers ii appears "a
De suiphate OF magnesia, which is here ind ca
/ ted
| IL The dried sediment, with the addition al
a little charcoal, exposed 10 strong heat, in
crncible, becomes pungent and highly sulphure
GUS. The oxygen of the suiphuric acid s thu.
separated and union OF lime and SULPHUR i,
left.
II. The dried sediment, agitated in rain wa
ter, is partly dissolved, and strikes deep greer
with blue flowers.
| Ia The ochrous sediment is soluble in alcohol
and hence is shewn TO be the oxy-sulphate o.
| IRON ttt
Is. Upon 10 grains ofthe sediment, obtained b,
boring, an OF. of alcohol was poured, and fire..
| quently sgitsted after standing IL or IS hours
the whole was carefully fltsr'd the filter be
lng accurately weighed before it was used. -
The sediment was found TO have lost two ora ms
nearly the alcohol, from being coourless, as
sumed light brown
Is. Upon 10 grains of the sediment, previous
y washed in alcohol, and well dried, about
OF oil water, which had been boiled, and cooled
were poured, and frequently agitated After
standing % hours, whitish precibitate of near
| ly grams was obtained. To the water. which
had been carefully poured off, caibonate of pot
ash 7'as added, which turned the water milky
and gave very white, loose precibitate of nearly
three grains. Upon each of the pfecipitates thus
! oblsined, small portion of sulphuric acid was
dropped with the first, little or no effervescenoe
ensued- 1t appeared to be sulphate of lime
| With the latter, the efervescence was brisk q
chrystalilzed silt was formed, deliouescert
and some what bitterish.
From this, and the preceding experiment. 4
| may be inferred, that given quantity of the Sc.
| diment will contain parts of the oxy-snlphate
ofiron, Z of the suphate of lime, and 8 of the
smphate OF nIagnesia. The water contains also
oorbonlc acid, but not in excess, as it does not
Communicate, in any sensible degree, subacid
| taste, . ---
This spring resembles, in many respects, the
= L. Il