lead may have the same effect. Sheet lead long exposed to air or water is sometimes observed to be corroded in particular spots; and these will always be found in the neighbourhood of parts of the metal differing in colour, hardness or texture from the general mass. I have not analyzed such spots; but I conceive the supposition now made is exceedingly probable, and supplies a ready explanation of the corrosion. Similar effects may arise simply from fragments of other metals lying long in contact with the lead. They may also arise from portions of mortar being allowed to lie on the lead; but the action here is not galvanic.
I have no doubt that many of the instances of unusually rapid corrosion of lead by water, such as that mentioned by Dr. Wall [p. 410] are really owing, not to the simple action of water, but to an action excited obscurely in one or other of the ways now mentioned.
Of the Action of Acidulous Fluids on Lead and its Oxide.
Water acidulated with various acids acts on lead with different degrees of rapidity.
The effect of acidulation with carbonic acid has not yet been accurately ascertained. The effect of sulphuric acid is peculiar. Distilled water feebly acidulated with that acid acts much less rapidly on lead than when quite pure. Thus I have found that, if it contained a 4000th or even only a 7000th of sulphuric acid, fifty grains of lead kept in it for thirty-two days gained a seventh or a twelfth of a grain in weight, and were covered with beautiful crystals of sulphate of lead. A minute trace of lead could be detected in the water. Hydrochloric acid is somewhat more active as a solvent. Distilled water containing a 3000th of that acid acquired in thirty-two days a sweetish taste, and yielded by evaporation a considerable quantity of muriate of lead, while the lead rods lost weight, and were covered with acicular crystals of the same salt.
It is much more important, however, to consider the effects of the vegetable acids on lead and its oxide, because their solvent power is a fruitful source of the accidental as well as intentional adulteration of many articles of food and drink.
Acetic acid in the form of common vinegar, even when much diluted, attacks and dissolves metallic lead, if by exposing the surface of the fluid to the air, a constant supply of oxygen be maintained to produce oxidation. The citric acid will attack it under the same circumstances, but acts more slowly. In a solution of five grains of citric acid in twenty-four parts or two drachms of water, three lead rods lost two grains in weight in nine weeks. The greater part of the citrate of lead separated slowly in white powdery crystals; but a small portion was dissolved by the excess of acid, and imparted to the fluid a pleasant sweetness. Tartaric acid acts much less energetically. In a comparative experiment with the last, the lead gained nearly half a grain in weight by acquiring a crystalline coat of tartrate of lead. But I could not detect any lead in solution; and
