G16 Foreign and Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



escaped. The acid acted nearly as powerfully as nitric acid under 

 similar circumstances. 



Concentrated chloric acid, poured into strong alcohol, acted power- 

 fully ; producing ebullition, and vapours of acetic acid. When the 

 quantity of alcohol was small, the whole was converted into strong 

 acetic acid ; and when there was still less alcohol, inflammation 

 occurred. 



Dried folded filtering paper dipped into chloric acid takes fire, and 

 exhales the odour of nitric acid. 



In the acetification of alcohol by these hydrogenative agents, no 

 carbonic acid is produced. 



The bromic and chloric acids had been prepared by the process of 

 Mr. Wheeler, namely, adding silicated hydrofluoric acid in excess 

 to the heated bromate or chlorate of potassa, continuing the heat 

 till the excess was driven off, cooling and filtering the liquid, evapo- 

 rating with the usual precaution, and refiltering the concentrated 

 liquid through glass *. 



7. ON PERCHLORIC ACID AND ITS FOSSIL FORMATION. 

 (Serullas.) 



The chloric acid just described, differed a little from that de- 

 scribed by other chemists ; but, upon heating it, it was found to 

 become the same. A singular result of the action of heat, applied to 

 a greater extent, was observed in the change of one part only into 

 chlorine and oxygen ; the other part, nearly one-third, became per- 

 chloric acid, probably often considered by chemists as chloric acid. 

 After distilling chloric acid for some time, therefore, the aqueous 

 products may be rejected, but there remains in the retort, adhering 

 to its sides, a dense colourless liquid, which, by raising the heat suf- 

 ficiently at last upon all the surface of the retort, may be driven over 

 into a clean receiver. 



This is perchloric acid, and, though very concentrated, it will not 

 inflame paper like chloric acid, but enables it to burn with small 

 sharp detonations. It may be distilled at high temperature without 

 further change. At first it has a reddish colour, from a little man- 

 ganese, perhaps ; but that passes off on a second distillation. It is not 

 altered when heated with muriatic acid or alcohol ; the process is one 

 which will give perchloric acid far more readily than that of the dis- 

 coverer Stadion. 



A perchloratc of potash was made with this acid and the alkali. 

 This being decomposed carefully by heat, gave 46 of oxygen per 

 cent. This result corresponds with the composition of the acid 

 already given, i. e, 1 proportion of chlorine, and 7 of oxygen t- 



* Ann. de Chim, xlv. p. 204. f Ibid., p. 270. 



