180 OBSERVATIONS ON MURIATIC ACID, 



other fait, in- bodies, whether fimple or compound, than oxigenized muriatic 



pofidontnf^ng. add ' k WOuld be natUraI to fu PP ofe that the former acid woultJ 

 act more powerfully upon the inflammable element of ammonia. 



But oxigenized muriatic acid combines with the hidrogen of 

 that alkali ; which, however, is not decompofed by hyperoxi- 

 genized muriatic acid ; yet the affinity of hyperoxigenized mu- 

 riatic acid for ammonia, is the^ only caufe that determines the 

 union of the acid and the alkali, without decompofition. But 

 thefe affinities fhall be more fully treated of, in fpeaking of hy- 

 peroxigenized muriate of ammonia. 



ALKALINE AND EARTHY HYPEROXIGENIZED 



MURIATES. 



Generis Characters. 



Alk. and earthy Hyperoxigenized muriates are formed by paffing a current 

 nates?*' °^ oxigenized muriatic acid through the bafts, difTolved or 



Generic charac- fufpended in water, as in the formation of the laft-mentioned 

 genus. The iirft formation is owing to the feparation of the 

 elements of an oxigenized muriate, into hyperoxigenized mu- 

 riate and fimple muriate; from which latter, they maybe fe- 

 parated by chryftallization, or by another procefs, which I (hall 

 mention, in treating of the earthy hyperoxigenized muriates, 

 By fimple trituration, they fcintillate, with noife. They are 

 decompofed by a low red heat ; and give out a confiderable 

 quantity of oxigen, as they become fimple muriates. They 

 cannot be brought down, by any means that I have tried, to 

 that diminiflied ftate of oxigenizement, which would conftitute 

 oxigenized muriates. They inflame all combuftible bodies 

 with violence, as is well known. They are foluble in water ; 

 many of them, in alcohol ; and fome are deliquefcent. The 

 acid is expelled, with particular phenomena, by fulphuric, ni- 

 tric, and muriatic acids, without heat ; and, a little below a 

 boiling heat, by phofphoric, oxalic, tartareous, citric, ami 

 arfenic acids : but they are not acted upon by benzoic, acetic, 

 acetous, boracic, pruflic, or carbonic acids. Thofe vegetable 

 acids which are powerful enough to decompofe them, give 

 out, towards the end, a gas of a peculiar nature, which has not 

 Jo much fmell as oxigenized muriatic acid gas, but which 

 affects the eyes in an extraordinary manner, and promotes an 



uncommon 



