£C)0 EXPLOSIVE COMPOUiND. 



a compound, the composition of that substance must be modified, by ad- 

 |^ rt d ^ uct ^OMttio§,t)mibebfarogen4o«liecompo^ is neutralized by 

 changed, oxigen instead of by chlorine. 



The hydrogen The hydrogen in the compound appears to be the link, con- 

 uuion' necting together the chlorine and azote, by its affinities for 



both, in the same manner as it does in the ternary compound 

 with chlorine and carbon, formed when snpercarburelted hy- 

 drogen gas and chlorine gas are mixed together, 

 and prevents It is the hydrogen in it also that, in ail probability, prevents 

 tronTbcinw'IJe- '* ^ rom Dem S instantly decomposed by water, by weakening 

 composed by the attraction between the chlorine of the compound and the 

 hydrogen of the water ; so that it is not able to overcome that 

 which unites the elements of the water. 

 Instead of Sir It will be observed, that we have adopted the system of Sir 

 orv ©rchlo-*" **• Davy, with respect to the nature of what was formerly 

 rine, the ear- called oxi muriatic gas. The several phenomena resulting 

 ox mor°acid ^ rom l ^ e act * on °f tae explosive compound on other bodies, 

 may probably however, are probably also capable of explanation on the old 

 be applicable. i neor y ; and such of your readers as may wish to apply that 

 theory to these phenomena, have only to consider them as 

 resulting from the transfer of oxigen from the oximuriatic 

 acid of the compound to the combustible body, forming oxi- 

 genised products, such as carbonic acid, oxides, &c. and to the 

 separation of the muriatic acid from the compound; in con- 

 sequence of this loss of oxigen. 

 Explanation. On Sir H. Davy's system, these phenomena are considered 

 as resulting from the attraction of the chlorine for combustible 

 bodies, and most usually for hydrogen, which it takes either 

 from a combustible body containing it, or from the water pre- 

 sent j and, in these cases, the muriatic acid is formed from this 

 union of chlorine with hydrogen j and oxygenised products 

 are also formed whenever the hydrogen, which thus unites to 

 the chlorine, is derived from the water. 

 We are, Sir, 

 Your most obedient, humble Servants, 



R.PORRETT, Juw. 



W.WILSON. 

 RUPERT KIRK. 



tendon, lOlh March, 16! 3. 



