in Us different States. 3j7 



chemistry, and which, till it is minutely examined, appears 

 so beautiful and satisfactory, rests, in the present state of , 

 our knowledge, upon hypothetical grounds. 



When oxymuriatic acid is acted upon by nearly an equal 

 volume of hydrogen, a combination takes place between 

 them, and muriatic acid gas results. When muriatic acid 

 gas is acted on by mercury, or any other metal, the oxy- 

 muriatic acid is attracted from the hydrogen, by the stronger 

 affinity of the metal ; and an oxvmuriate, exactly similar to 

 that formed by combustion, is produced. 



The action of water upon those compounds, which have 

 been usually considered as muriates, or as dry muriates, but 

 which are properly combinations of oxymuriatic acid with 

 inflammable bases, may be easily explained, according to 

 these views of the subject. When water is added in certain 

 quantities to Libavius's liquor, a solid crystallized mass is 

 obtained, from which oxide of tin and muriate of ammonia 

 can be procured by ammonia. In this case, oxygen may 

 be conceived to be supplied to the tin, and hydrogen to the 

 oxymuriatic acid. 



The compound formed by burning phosphorus in oxy- 

 muriatic acid is in a similar relation to water : if that sub- 

 stance be added to it, it is resolved into two powerful acids ; 

 oxygen, it may be supposed, is furnished to the phosphorus 

 to form phosphoric acid, hydrogen to the oxymuriatic acid 

 to form common muriatic acid gas. 



None of the combinations of the oxymuriatic acid with 

 inflammable bodies can be decomposed by dry acids ; and 

 this seems to be the test which distinguishes the oxymu- 

 riatic combinations from the muriates, though they have 

 "hitherto been confounded together. Muriate of potash for 

 instance, if M. Berthollet's estimation of its composition 

 approaches towards accuracy, when ignited, is a com- 

 pound of oxymuriatic acid with potassium : muriate of am- 

 monia is a compound of muriatic acid £as and ammonia ; 

 and when acted on by potassium, is is decompounded : the 

 oxymuriatic acid may be conceived to combine with the 

 potassium to form muriate of potash, and the ammonia and 

 hydrogen are set free. 



The vivid combustion of bodies in oxymuriatic acid gas, 

 at first view, appears a reason why oxygen should be ad- 

 mitted in it ; out heat and light are merely results of the 

 intense agency of combination. Sulphur and metals, al- 

 kaline earths and acids, become ignited during their mutual, 

 agency; and such an effect might be expected in an opera - 



Z 3 lion 



