ON oxiMtJRtATifc Acid, I37 



VII. 



Farther Observations and Experiments on Oximuriatic Acid, 

 by J. Murray, Lec^itrer or^ Chemistry, Edinburgh, 



To Mr. NICHOLSON. 

 SIR, 



N a former communication I had given an account of 

 some experiments, which I regarded as subversive of Mr. 

 Davy's lately proposed hypothesis on the nature of muriatic 

 and oximuiiatic acids. Of these some of the results were Result of the 

 called in question by that gentleman, particularly that in^^^o^ofc^rr 

 which carbonic oxide, hidrogen, and oximuriatic acid gasses hidrogen, and 

 were subjected to mutual action, either at a low tempera- ox>raunauc 

 ture or by detonation. The production of carbonic acid in ed. 

 this experiment he appeared to have considered as arising 

 from the operation of the water introduced with the view of 

 examining the product; he employed therefore dry ammo- 

 niacul gas, and with this variation he stated, that there is 

 no conversion of carbonic oxide into carbonic acid. Though 

 satisfied, that there is little probability in the supposition of 

 any fallacy from this source, 1 thought it right to repeat 

 the experinnent so as to exclude its operation, and having 

 lately done so, I beg leave to communicate the result. 



1 may previously remark, that I had objected to the im- ^f^ Davj's ex- 

 perfect manner in which Mr. Davy's experiment was exe- periments on 

 cuted ; ho attempt apparently having been made to discover 

 -if carbonic acid were formed, but its nonformation having 

 been inferred merely from the residual gas burning with 

 the bame coloured flame as carbonic oxide. This has since 

 been attended to, and the experiment performed with a 

 more strict txiamination of the result. An account is given 

 by Mr. J. Davy in his last communication of this repetition 

 of the experiment. A mixture of 10 measures of carbonic 

 oxide, 4 measures of hidrogen, and 14*6 measures of oxi* 

 muriatic acid gas contaminated with 2 of common air, was 

 inflamed by the electric spark ; the residual air being deto- 

 nated with oxigen was found to contain 8 measures only of 

 carbonic oxide ; 2 measures of this gas therefore had dis- 

 appeared. 



