Abstract
THE fact that Sphagnum or peat shaken with a neutral salt gives rise to an acid reaction in the solution has long been known. Baumann and Gully first explained this phenomenon as due to the adsorption of the base by colloids and the liberation of the acid. This view has been the subject of much criticism, especially by Odén, who regards the acidity as due to the presence of organic—humic—acids. An important argument of Odén is that no proof has been offered that the acid of the salt employed is ever present in the free state in the solution. We have been able to provide this proof by two different methods.
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SKENE, M., STUART, G. Acidity produced in Salt Solutions by Sphagnum. Nature 115, 605–606 (1925). https://doi.org/10.1038/115605a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/115605a0
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