rOM3INATI0KS OF OXIMURIATIC CAS AND OXIGEN, 2§^9 



In the decomposition of the white oxide of zinc, oxigen O'^^^®*'""*^* 

 was expelled exactly equal to half the volume of the oximu- nic. 

 riatic acid absorbed. In the case of the decomposition of 

 the black oxide of iron, and the white oxide of arsenic, the 

 changes that occurred were of a very beautiful kind ; no ox- 

 igen was given off in either case, but butter of arsenic, and 

 arsenical acid formed in one instance, and the ferruginous 

 sublimate, and red oxide of iron in the other. 



Two grains of white oxide of arsenic absorbed 0*8 of oxi- 

 muriatic gas*. 



I doubt not that the same phenomena will be found to 

 occur in other instances, in which the metal has compara-f 

 tively a slight attraction only for oximuriatic gas, and when 

 it is susceptible of different degrees of oxidation, and in 

 which the peroxide is used. 



The only instance in which I tried to decompose a com- Oxide «f tin. 



mon metallic oxide, by muriatic acid, was in that of the 



fawn coloured oxide of tin; a compound of water and Li- 



bavius*s liquor separated. 



From the proportions which may be g-ained in consider^ ^"^ P^""* ^^ 

 1 , ,. • • . , . 1 , 1 i/v metal com- 



ing the volumes of oximuriatic gas absorbed by the dilter- bines with 



ent metals, in their relations to the quantity of oxieen which *"*^» ^^°> °^ 

 would be required to convert them into oxides, it would ap- muriatic gus. 

 pear, that in the experiments to which I have referred, 

 cither one, two, or three proportions of oximuriatic gas 

 combine with one of metal, and consequently, from the com- 

 position of the muriates, it will be easy to obtain the num- 

 bers representing the proportions in which these metals 

 may be conceived to enter into other compoundaf. 



* A singular iustance of the tendency of the oxide of nrsenic to be- 

 come arsenical acid occurs in its action on fused hydrat of potash, the 

 water in the hydrat is rapidly decomposed, and arseniui*etted hidrogen 

 erolvcd, and arseniate of potash formed. 



•f From the experiments detailed in the note in the opposite page, it 

 would appear that the number representing the proportion in .which 

 mercury combines must be about 200. That of silver, as would ap- 

 pear from the results, page 227, about 100. The numbers of other me- 

 tals may be learnt frem the data in the same page, but, from what has 

 been stated, these data cannot be considered as very correct. 



5. General 



