Sodae Acetas. Dub. Acetate of Soda

"Take of carbon ate of soda, any quantity; distilled vinegar, enough to saturate the alkali. Evaporate the filtered solution until it attain the sp. gr. 12.76. Crystals form as the solution cools; they must be cautiously dried, and preserved in closely-stopped bottles."

To obtain well-formed crystals the evaporation should be conducted in a gentle heat: and, if they be not quite pure, they should be redissolved, and treated with pure animal charcoal.

Qualities. - This salt has an acerb, bitter taste : is soluble in three parts of water at 60°; does not deliquesce, but loses its water of crystallization in a moderate temperature; in a greater heat, 600° Fahr., it is decomposed, and leaves as a residue carbonate of soda. Acetate of soda crystallizes in solid striated oblique rhombic prisms. It consists of 1 eq. of soda = 31.3 + 1 of acetic acid = 51.48; making the equivalent 82.78.

Medical properties and uses, - Acetate of soda is diuretic, and may be used in the same cases as acetate of potassa, over which it possesses no advantages.

Sodae Sesquicarbonas. Lond. Sesquicarbonate of Soda

"Take of carbonate of soda, seven pounds; distilled water, a gallon. Dissolve the carbonate of soda in the water, and strain. Then transmit carbonic acid through the solution, to perfect saturation, that the salt may subside. Dry the crystals, involved and pressed in linen cloth, with a gentle heat.

Carbonas Sodae. Edin. Carbonate of Soda

"Take of subcarbonate of soda, two parts; water, three parts. Dissolve the salt in the water, and subject it to a stream of carbonic acid gas, until the acid be no longer absorbed. Then filter the fluid, and evaporate it in a heat not exceeding 180°, that it may crystallize. The carbonic acid is easily obtained from equal weights of pulverized carbonate of lime and of sulphuric acid largely diluted with water."

Sodae Bicarbonas. Dub. Bicarbonate of Soda

"Take of carbonate of soda, two parts; water, five parts. Dissolve; and, by means of a proper apparatus, transmit through the solution a stream of carbonic acid gas, extricated from white marble by means of diluted muriatic acid, until crystals are formed: then, with a heat not exceeding 120°, evaporate the fluid to obtain more crystals, which, being united with the former, are to be dried, and preserved in well-stopped bottles.

Syn. Carbonate de Sonde (F.), Kohlensaures Natrum (G), Koolenzuure Soda (Dutch), Carbonato di Soda (I.).

The constituents of this salt, which is a sesquicarbonate, are, according to Rose, 49.05 of acid, 29.95 of alkali, and 20.20 of water, in 100 parts: in its crystalline state, of 3eq. of carbonic acid = 66.36 + 1 of soda = 31.3 + 2 of water = 18 = 115.66.1

Qualities. - This salt is procured in very white minute crystals, without any alkaline taste. It is partially decomposed in moderate heat, 212° Fahr., and is soluble in ten parts of water at 60°. It readily loses its carbonic acid. It is not incompatible in prescriptions with sulphate of magnesia.

1 This salt occurs native in Africa and in South America,

Medical properties and uses. - This salt does not appear to possess any advantages over the carbonate as a remedy, but it is less nauseous. The dose is from grs. x. to 3ss.