88 Mr. Faraday'5 Experiments on the Nature of 



after the action of the sulphuric acid, be contained in solution as 

 muriatic and chloric acids, and from the diluted s.tate of the 

 whole, would not be removed by the after-process, but remain 

 to be rendered evident by tests. The other portion being di- 

 luted, had sulphuric acid added also in excess, but no attempt 

 was made to remove the chlorine. Equal quantities of these 

 two portions in the same state of dilution were then examined 

 by nitrate of silver for the quantities of chlorine sensible in them, 

 and it was found that the latter portion, or that which retained 

 the whole of the chlorine thrown into it, contained above sixty 

 times as much as the former. 



12. Now although it may be supposed that in the former 

 portion that part of the chlorine, which, in acting energetically, 

 had produced chloric acid, could not be detected by the nitrate 

 of silver, yet more than a sixth of the small portion which re- 

 mains cannot be thus hidden ; and even that quantity is dimi- 

 nished by the sulphuric acid present in excess, which tends to 

 make the chlorine in the chlorate sensible to nitrate of silver : 

 so that the experiment shews that nearly 59 parts out of 60 of 

 the chlorine in M. Labarraque's liquid are in a state of weak 

 combination with the carbonated alkali, and may be separated 

 by acids in its original condition ; that this quantity is probably 

 wholly available in the liquid when used as a bleaching or disin- 

 fecting agent ; that little, if any, of the chlorine forms chloride 

 of sodium and chlorate of soda with the alkali of the solution ; 

 and that the portion of chlorine used in preparing the sub- 

 stance which is brought into an inactive state, is almost insen- 

 sible in quantity. 



13. The peculiar nature of this compound or solution, with 

 the results Mr. Phillips had shewn me (8), obtained by evapo- 

 ration of a similar preparation to dryness, induced me to try the 

 effects of slow evaporation, crystallization, heat, and air upon it. 

 In the first place five equal portions of the solution prepared 

 by myself were measured out : two were put into stoppered 

 bottles, two were put into basins and covered over with bibulous 

 paper, and one was put into a basin which was left open ; all 

 were set aside in an obscure place, and remained from July 

 16th to August 28th. Being then examined, the portions in 

 the basins were found crystallized and dry ; the crystals were 

 large and flat; striated and imperfect, re&embling those formed 



