Water Tests

Southland Times, Issue 9359, 27 October 1886, Page 4

Water Tests

Teat for hard or soft water.— Dissolve a ■mall quantity of good soap in alcohol. Let a few drops fall into a glass of water, If it turni milky, it is hard ; if not it is soft. Test for Barthy MaUerß or Alkali. — Take litmus paper dipped ia vinegar, aud if, on immersion, th« paper returns to its tfue shade, the water does not contain earthly matter or alkali. Jf a few drops of sirup be added to a water containing an earthy mailer, it will turn grenn. Test for carbonic acid.— Take equal parts of water and clear lime water. If combined or free carbonic acid is present a precipitate is sen, to wbich, if a few drops of muriatic acid be added, an effervescence commences. Test for magnesia — Boil the water to a twentieth part of its weight, and then drop a few grains of neutral carbonate of ammonia into % glass of it, and a few drops of phosphate of soda. If magnesia be present it wiil fall to the bottom- Tetts for iron.— l. Boil a little not gall, and add to the water. If it turns gray or slate-black iron is present. 2, Dissolve a little prussiate of potash, and if iron is present, it will turn blue. Teat for lime. — Into a glasi of the water put two drops of oxalic acid, and blow upon it ; it it gets milky, lime is present. Tests for acii. —Take a piece of litmus paper. If it turns red, there must be acid. If it precipitates on adding lime water, it ib carbonic acid. If a blue sugar paper is turned red, it is a mineral acid.