86 Mr. Faraday's Experiments on the Nature of 



change which had been occasioned by the action of the chlo- 

 rine. It bleached powerfully, and apparently contained no 

 carbonated alkali : but when a glass rod was dipped into it 

 and dried in a warm current of air, the saline matter left, when 

 applied to moistened turmeric paper, reddened it considerably 

 at first, and then bleached it ; and this piece of paper being 

 dried and afterwards moistened upon the bleached part, gave 

 indications of alkali to fresh turmeric paper. 



6. A portion of the saturated solution (4) being warmed, in- 

 stantly evolved chlorine gas, then assumed a dingy appearance, 

 and ultimately became nearly colourless ; after which it had an 

 astringent and saline taste. Being evaporated to dryness at a 

 very moderate temperature, it left a saline mass, consisting of 

 much common salt, a considerable quantity of chlorate of soda, 

 and a trace of carbonate of soda. This mixture had no bleach- 

 ing powers. The dingy appearance, assumed in the first in- 

 stance, was found to be occasioned by a little manganese which 

 had passed over into the solutions, notwithstanding the care 

 taken in evolving and washing the gas. 



7. From these experiments it was evident that when chlorine 

 was passed in excess into a solution of carbonate of soda (3), 

 the carbonic acid was expelled, and the soda acted upon as if 

 it were caustic, a mixture of chloride of sodium and chlorate of 

 soda being produced ; with the exception of the small portion 

 of carbonate of soda which, it appears, may remain for some time 

 in the solution in contact with the excess of chlorine at com- 

 mon temperatureis, without undergoing this change. The quan- 

 tities of chloride of sodium and chlorate of soda were not ascer- 

 tained, no doubt being entertained that they were in the well- 

 known proportions Avhich occur when caustic soda is used. 



8. The Labarraque's soda liquor which had been prepared 

 as described (2), was now examined relative to the part the 

 chlorine played in it, or the change the alkali had undergone, 

 and was soon found to be very difi'erent to that which has been 

 described, as indeed the experiments I had seen made by 

 Mr. Phillips* led me to expect. The solution had but little 

 odour of chlorine, its taste was at first sharp, saline, scarcely at 



♦ See Vol L of this Journal, p. 461 ; and Phil. Mag. N. S., I. 376. 



