1823.] On the Muriatic Acid in the Airqfihe Atmosphere* 25 



Article V. 



On the Presence of Muriatic Acid in the Air of the Atmosphere* 

 From several papers by Herrastadt, Vogel, PfafF, &c. 



The Dutch chemists appear to have satisfactorily ascertained 

 the presence of muriatic acid in atmospheric air under certain 

 circumstances, and the same fact seems to have been discovered 

 a second time within the last two or three years, 



M. Hermstadt, of Berlin, in a treatise on the sea-baths of 

 Doberan on the coast of Mecklenburgh, first adverted to some 

 properties which seemed peculiar to the air collected over the 

 sea, or in its neighbourhood ; the most remarkable circumstance 

 was, that water shaken with it, precipitated nitrate of silver ; 

 he did not state his opinion that this was occasioned by muriatic 

 acid, but left it undecided. Upon the suggestion of M. Vogel, 

 of Munich, while on a visit to M. Kruger, of Doberan, the latter 

 made some experiments which proved that water distilled 

 from solutions of most earthy and even metallic muriates, 

 contains some muriatic acid. The experiments were the fol- 

 lowing : 



An ounce of muriate of potash was put into a distilling appa- 

 ratus with 30 ounces of distilled water ; the solution was kept 

 slowly boiling, and 10 ounces of water were condensed ; three 

 drops of a concentrated solution of nitromuriate of platina were 

 added to three ounces of this water, and the solution was evapo- 

 rated in a glass vessel until only about live drops remained. On 

 cooHng, a reddish yellow sediment was deposited, which was 

 difficultly soluble in water. 



Solution of nitrate of lead, when mixed with the water, 

 instantly produced turbidness. 



Solution of nitrate of silver produced a similar effect, but more 

 readily. 



Litmus paper was not changed by the water. 



This experiment was repeated, excepting that muriate of 

 magnesia was used instead of muriate of potash. When the 

 distilled water was heated in a silver vessel, and a ^evf drops of 

 solution of carbonate of soda added to it, every drop produced 

 turbidness, which instantly disappeared. When eight ounces 

 of the distilled water were evaporated with some carbonate of 

 soda until half an ounce remained, a small quantity of a white 

 precipitate appeared, which, when sufficiently washed, dissolved 

 in sulphuric acid with effervescence. 



Solution of nitrate of silver rendered the distilled water turbid, 

 and nitrate of lead much more so. Litmus paper remained 

 unchanged. 



When the experiment was repeated with muriate of soda, the 



