j^bc Preparation of the Oxygenated Muriat ef Pot^r^ 



III. 



Experiments and Ohfervations on the Preparation, and feme remarkable Properties (f the Oxygsnateif 

 Muriatr ef Pct-ajh. By Mr. ThoM-AS HorZE,jiin. * 



H. 



.AVING an opportunity in preparing the oxygenated muriatic acid for the purpofe 

 oi bleaching, by a fmall extenfion of the apparatus, to prepare likewiCe the oxygenated 

 muriat of potafh, and to mal-ce experiments orrthat fubilance, I have been induced to digeft. 

 the mod; material facls and ohfervations which occurred, and to lay them before the Society :. 

 efpecially as I do not find much on the fubjeft in the writings of others, and as many haic 

 probably been deterred from, the inveftigation by the exorbitant price of the article, and b*- 

 fomc apprchenfions of danger attending It. 



A few experiments, which are not new, have been introduced, in order to bring. undec, 

 one point of vie\r the principal chemical fa£ls which relate to this fait. I have given iiv; 

 moft cafes an exa£t account of the quantities of the different ingredients compofing tha 

 mixtures ; and as perfons not much accuftomed to fuch experiments may be inclined to 

 repeat fome of them^ I would cautio:i them not to tife greater quantities than are here fpecifieJy^ 

 particularly where the terms violent detonation, explofion,,5:c. are employed. 



I would not by any means wi(h it to be undcrftood that 1 have cxhaufted the fubjefi : 

 many more experiments and much labour and afTiduity are required, before the nature au4 

 ufes of fo aftive a fubftance can be fully afcertained. 



I find it has been introduced Into medicine with fuccefs ; and I hope its good effecls, in. 

 that refpeft will not be fruftrated by the high price of the article, as it may be procured at a 

 flauch cheaper rate than it is commonly charged. 



I. On the Preparation of the Salt, and its Solution in Water and the Aiids.- 



I'indirlg that a quantity of gas efcaped occafionally from our apparatus for making the* 

 new bleaching liquor, more efpecially when the fire was not properly managed, or when 

 by any other means a greater quantity of gas was produced than the liquor could abforb y 

 I thought it would be ufeful to adapt to the large apparatus a fmaller one, in which this 

 fuperfluous gas might be condenfed ; as the efcape of it was fometimes difagreeable to ther 

 workmen. This I did by filling an earthen-ware bottle with a ftrong folution of potafli in 

 water (confifting of about three pounds of alkali to the gallon), which I found entirely re. 

 Keved us from the difagreeable fmell we frequently experienced before, and at the fame 

 time yielded a confiderable quantity of the oxygenated muriat. Though the produdion of 

 the oxygenated muriat in this way be fomewhat precarious, depending upon the manage^ 

 ment of the perfon who conduds the process (it being the bleacher's intereft to condenfe 

 the whole of the gas in the liquor he wants for his bufinefs) ; yet I think, if the portion 

 which commonly efcapes were thus difpofed of, a confiderable quantity of this fait might be 

 made by bleachers with little additional expence, except what is incurred by the purchafe 

 of the alkali, and fome more labour and attention. At fome of my firft trials, about two 

 years ago, I found the gas which efcaped from the materials of one diftillation fufficient to 

 feturate two gallons of the alkaline folution, from which I procured about fix ounces, and 



• Manchcfter Memoirs, v«l. v. part J. 



fometimes^ 



