iS& ON OXiMURIATIC ACID. ^' 



appeared, and it appears to be admitted in the stntement of 

 the experiment had been converted into carbonic acid, as 

 indeed no other conclusion could be drawn. But this is 

 ascribed to the action of tlie common air, or oF moisture iii 

 the gas8fes> an«^ it isf inferred, that, when the action of these 

 is taken into account, " no result more satisfactorily cou- 

 " elusive that no carbonic acid was formed could be ex- 

 " pected." 

 pfoducei} car- It is at least established, that in this experiment, when 

 baaicaeid, ^j^^ results are submitted to accurate examination (even 

 with the precaution, which Mr. Duvy deems so essential, oi 

 substituting ammonia for water), there is a conversion oi 

 carbonic oxide into carbonic acid. The Jact therefore is 

 admitted, which I had asserted, and which had been before 

 noi sat'tffacto- denied. The sitppodtions by which it is now attempted to 

 V^ aecttuwted |^ accounted for I regard as unsatisfactory, no proof being 

 given, either that the causes assumed did operate, or were 

 adequate to the production of the eifeet. With regard to 

 the supposed operation of the atmospheric -air mingled with 

 the oximuviatic gas, it is not probable* that, diluted a& it 

 must be by the large intermixture of elastic fluid, its oxi- 

 gen would combine with the carbonic oxide in the feeble 

 inSamraation, which from the small portion of hidrogen 

 employed would take place in the experiment. And even 

 if it had combined, the quantity of it was not sufficient to 

 JliavQ converted into carbonic acid half the quantity of car- 

 bonic oxide which disappeared. With regard to the sup" 

 pcsed effect from moisture, as the carbonic oxide and hidro- 

 gen gasses were previously dried, it can scarcely be assumed 

 to have been present to the extent which it is necessary to. 

 suppose, allowing even that it could operate in the mo- 

 ni€ntary action from the detonation. And i^ there were 

 grounds for supposing, that these circumstances were of 

 any importance in producing the result, why were they al- 

 lowed to operate h It ia easy to obtain oximuriatic gas witb- 

 ftut BUih an intermixture of common air as 2 measures in 

 J4; it can also be dried by submitting it to the action of 

 substances which abstrnct water. When they could thua 

 Kave been excluded, the only reason that could justify this 

 aduttisiioo was the belief, that their influence was so unim- 

 '' portant 



