Jgg ON OXIMURIATIC ACID« , 



auctionand and the formation of water, has supposed, that I have ne« 

 formation. , , - , , . 



glecteci Its agency in an experiment, when 1 only suppose 



the most direct conclusion, and the one nipst strictly ana- 

 logous to that which would be formed in similar cases, to be 

 drawn. If muriatic acid gas in acting on a metallic oxide 

 disappears, forming a solid product, while water is also pro- 

 ik duced, the most obvious and direct conclusion, and the one 

 t ' most conformable to a very extensive analogy is, that the 



acid has combined with the oxide, and that the water had 

 been previously combined with the acid, but does not enter 

 into the new combination. If nitric acid vapour, or sulphu* 

 ric acid vapour, were transmitted over a metallic oxide, with 

 similar results ; the disappearance of the acid, the formation 

 of a solid product, and the production of water; this is the 

 * very conclusion which I suppose Mr. J. Davy would consi- 



der as the legitimate one; and it may he well for him to 

 consider a little further the grounds on which he violates 

 this mode of induction, in refusing to draw a similar con- 

 clusion with regard to muriatic acid. 

 Hypothetical I ^'^^ given some examples pf hypothetical explanations 

 explaaaticns j^ Mr. Davy's system, which I regarded as much more 

 system. *^^ " complicated than any of those which are given in the oppo- 

 site opinion. Mr. J. Davy has endeavoured to render them 

 more simple, but I fear with little success. Dry muriate of 

 potash is regarded as a compound of oxi muriatic acid and 

 potassium. On dissolving it in water, I conceived, that, 

 in conformity to the system, it was supposed to be converted 

 into a compound of muriatic acid.jind potash, a portion of 

 the water being decomposed, its oxigen communicated to 

 the potassium, and its hidrogen to the oximuriatic acid: 

 antrl that again in expelling the water from this solution, 

 and obtaining the dry salt, the hidiogen of the acid and the 

 oxigen of the potash combine, forming w£(ter, while the oxi- 

 muriatic acid and the potassium enter into union. In 

 giving these as the explanations which are conformable to 

 Mr. Davy's system, I believe I have done it justice; and 

 that, though sufficiently hypothetical and complicated, 

 they are the most probable of which it admits, and are in 

 conformity to his own statements : "the action of water on 

 these compounds which have been usually considered as 



muriates. 



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