The works of the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq., epitomiz'd by Richard Boulton ... ; illustrated with copper plates.

EXPERIMENT V.

* 1.1The Experiment which I am about to deliver, I presume, will be sufficient to shew, That Con∣siderable Alterations in Bodies may be effected, by the Access of some Parts, and a Recess of others, the Remaining Parts being Modify'd afresh. The Experiment is the following, viz. Digest for some Time one Part of Sea-Salt, with a double Proportion of Spirit of Nitre; which

being distill'd in a Retort, till the Caput Mor∣tunm remains dry, the following Changes of Qualities will be observable;

• First, That it be∣comes an Aqua Regis, and would dissolve Gold, but not Silver; yet would precipitate the Latter when dissolv'd in Aqua Regis:
• Secondly, The Taste is more mild, affecting the Sensory, rather like Nitre, than common Salt:
• Thirdly, It be∣comes Fusible, like Salt-Petre; and like Nitre, dis∣solves in the Flame of a Candle.
• But Fourthly, Tho' it be a Quality of Sea-Salt to resist the Action of Fire, and of Acid Spi∣rits to cool Inflammations; yet a Lump of this Matter cast upon Coals, flam'd like Nitre; as also by an Addition of Charcoal, when melted in a Crucible, it wou'd burn with a lasting and splendid Flame, which would again renew, up∣on a fresh Addition of burning Charcoal. But what I chiefly design'd in this Experiment was to turn an Acid into an Alkaly,* 1.2 which was effected by consuming the more Fugitive Parth of the Salts, by repeated Deflagrations; whereupon it acquir'd, instead of an Acid, a Lixiviate Taste; would turn Syrup of Violets green, precipitate a Solution of Sublimate, into an Orange Colour; and as other fix'd Salts, would ferment with even Spirit of Salt; which Alkalyzate Nature, could not be suppos'd to proceed from the Char∣coal Ashes; because the whole Quantity made use of, could not yield above 2 or 3 Grains of Salt: Yet that I might be further satisfy'd, I drop'd a sufficient Quantity of Aqua fortis upon the Li∣xiviate Salt, till the Mixture ceas'd to ferment; which upon Coagulation, shot into Saline Cry∣stals, from the Inflammable Qualities of which

• it appear'd, That the Nitrous Spirit was united with the Alkaly. And if it should be again sus∣pected, that the Alkaline Parts were only the Remains of some of the Aqua fortis, which might be carry'd over into the Receiver: I answer, That Nitre being an Acid, it must follow that two Acids united, were turn'd into an Alkaly.

And to prosecute this Experiment further, we distill'd a Mixture of Spirit of Nitre, with a double Proportion of Spirit of Salt; yet tho' some Parts of the Nitre were carry'd over with the Salt, the Remaining Substance would wholly flash away, if plac'd upon the Coals, like common Nitre.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Several Changes in Bodies may be effected by the Ad∣dition, or Substracti∣on, and new Modificati∣on of Mat∣ter.
• * 1.2

  An Acid may be turn'd into an Alkaly.