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Nitrate of Potassa

Called also tained from a solution of 1 part ferrocyanide nitre and saltpetre. This salt is spontaneously of potassium in 16 parts cold water, by passgenerated in the soil, owing to the action of ing chlorine gas slowly through it, with conthe atmosphere, and crystallizes upon its sur- stant agitation, until the liquid appears of a face in various parts of the world, especially reddish green color, and ceases to give a blue in the East Indies. It is also produced artifi- precipitate, or even a blue tinge, to a solution cially by exposing a mixture of calcareous of a sesquisalt of iron, an excess of chlorine soil and animal matter to the atmosphere, being carefully avoided. The liquor is then when nitrate of lime is slowly formed, and is evaporated till a pellicle forms on the surface, extracted by lixiviation. The liquid is then filtered while hot, and set aside to cool; the decomposed by adding carbonate of potash, crystals are again dissolved and crystallized. by which carbonate of lime is precipitated and nitrate of potash remains in solution. (Cooley.)