Chemical Science. 169 



binary compound, produces such differences of properties as to con- 

 stitute the products real and distinct substances*. 



4. PRODUCTION OP HYDROCYANIC (PRUSSIC) ACID UNDER 

 UNCOMMON CIRCUMSTANCES. (A. A. Hayes.) 



Wishing to decompose some nitric acid containing about one-third 

 its weight of dry acid, it was subjected to distillation with one-third 

 of its weight of raw sugar; the distillation was attended by the 

 production of vapours of nitrous and hyponitrous acids, as is usual 

 in the decomposition of nitric acid. The fluid in the receiver was 

 slightly acid, it was therefore returned to the retort still containing 

 the residue of the first operation, and gentle heat applied ; the 

 strong and peculiar odour of hydrocyanic acid was developed, in 

 such a quantity as to render the atmosphere of a small room irre- 

 spirable. After cooling the apparatus and decanting the distilled 

 fluid, a few drops of ammonia were added, and the alkaline fluid, 

 mixed with a solution of proto-sulphate of iron, and a few drops of 

 acid, deposited a bulky precipitate, which, on exposure, became of 

 a fine blue colour. Rosebury Laboratory, March, 16th, 1830 f. 



5. ACTION OF CHLORINE ON CARBURETTED HYDROGEN. 



A memoir upon the action of chlorine on carburetted hydrogen, 

 consisting of single proportionals of carbon and hydrogen, has been 

 read by M. Morin to the Societe de Physique, &c., of Geneva, 

 of which the following is a brief abstract. The investigation was 

 rendered necessary in consequence of the conflicting statements put 

 forth by different philosophers of the nature, composition, and pro- 

 duction of the resulting substance. 



When chlorine and olefiant gas are brought together over water, 

 a compound sometimes called chloric ether, or hydrocarburet of 

 chlorine, is formed, which was analysed several years since by MM. 

 Robiquet and Colin: they concluded, from all their experiments, 

 that it consisted of equal volumes of chlorine and olefiant gas com- 

 bined together, and in fact, it was well ascertained, that in these 

 proportions the substance was abundantly produced, and the gases 

 disappeared. 



M. Morin analysed it by passing its vapour through a tube heated 

 to dull redness : carbon was left in the tube and a gaseous mixture 

 obtained, containing two volumes of muriatic acid gas, and one 

 volume of a peculiar carburetted hydrogen, containing twice its 

 volume of hydrogen, in combination with 0.6 of a volume (as the 

 hypothesists say) of the vapour of carbon ; 3.7 parts of the hydro- 

 carburet of chlorine were used, and, according to the received opi- 

 nion of composition, a fourth more of muriatic acid, and a third less 

 of the carburetted hydrogen gases ought to have been obtained. 

 Hence it appeared, that a very considerable part of the chlorine 



* Ann. de Chim., xliii. 364. f Silliman's Journal, xviii. 201 . 



