ON THE MATURE OF OXIMUHATIO CAf. 43 



t>f effecting the entire exclusion of moisture, no result 



more satisfactorily conclusive, that no carbonic acid was 



formed, could be expected : and we obtamed a similar re- 



iult ill anotlier experiment, in which we employed a strong 



solution of potash instead of ammoniacal gas, for absorbing 



the acid ^as formed, 



1 mentioned in a note to my former paper the discovery Compound of 

 ii-«rT> p * J c ' • L- oxiniuriatic 



made by Mr Bavy of a graseous compound of oxmiuriatic gas and oxije*, 



gas and oxigen. I stated the method of procuring it, and 

 the property which it has of converting carboni* oxide into 

 carbonic acid. Mr. Murray appears to think very lightly 

 of this compound. But I can assure this gentleman, 

 ** notwithstanding it is pro'ured (as he justly remarks) 

 from the same materials as oxi muriatic gas, and by a pro- 

 cess apparently not much different from that which is 

 usually employed,'* that Mr. Davy has found it to possess its sin^lar 

 very different properties. Copper leaf, arsenic, and the iropertics. 

 common metals, for instance, which instantlj^ in0ame in 

 oximuiiatic gas, remain untarnished in this gas. And, 

 what is extraordinary, it is oxigen in union which prevents 

 the combustion of the metals from taking place; for when 

 the combination Jsjbroken by nitrous gas, or a gentle heat, 

 the oxi muriatic gas, set fr^e, acts as usual. The decompo<^ 

 sition too of this gas by heat is so rapid, that it produces a 

 loud explosion ; and, if the quantity it> Mrge, a dangerous 

 one: and it is a v/gry singular circumstance, that it is at- 

 tended with the evolution of heat, and even of light, not- 

 withstanding there is a very considerable increase of volume. 

 Mr. Murray may have remarked tiie difference of colour 

 between common oximuriatic gas and the gas fioin oxirau- 

 riate of potash; it is owing to an admixture of the newly 

 discovered gas. When this gentleman learns, that the pure 

 gas contams about half its volu! e of oxigen, he will pro-^ 

 bably no longer doubt, that it may bp able to convert car- 

 bonic oxjde into carbonic acid ; and sincp oxigen united to 

 oximuriatic gas deprives the latter of all those properties, 

 which it w.is supposed to owe to loosely combined oxigen, gj^^^f, j^^^k 

 he will probably adopt the new idea, that oximuriatic gas r 



is a simple body. But if on the contrary he should still 

 prefer the old hypothe»ib---the consequence is inevitable—. 



