270 M. Balard on the Nature of the [Oct. 



decolourized, but it retained these properties only for a 

 short time ; chloride of silver precipitating, and chlorate 

 remaining in solution. 



Analogous phenomena are observed when any salt of silver 

 is treated with chlorine, as nitrate, acetate, chlorate, <fec. 

 Chlorate of silver is formed and the acid of the salts is set 

 at liberty. 



Decomposition having rapidly occurred in this, as well 

 as in former experiments, a method which appeared capable 

 of arresting it presented itself, viz., to precipitate the base 

 of the chlorate of silver by chlorine itself. Chlorine, in 

 acting upon any salt of silver, separates from it the base, 

 and these two bodies are converted into chloride of silver 

 and chlorous acid. This fact was observed while using an 

 excess of chlorine in one of the operations described. The 

 liquid which is obtained after the separation of the chloride 

 of silver, by filtration, is not pure chlorous acid ; for, if the 

 decolourizing compound has been precipitated by nitrate of 

 silver, besides chlorous acid it will contain nitrate of silver. 

 If a salt of silver is decomposed by chlorine, the liquid will 

 contain the acid which was united to the silver, mixed with 

 chlorous acid. Lastly, when we agitate chlorine with the 

 oxide of silver suspended in water, the chlorous acid, which 

 appears to be pure, is mixed with much chloric acid ; for, 

 when the chlorine is agitated with the oxide, an operation 

 which, however rapidly done, cannot be completed compa- 

 tibly with the complete absorption of the chlorine in less 

 than one or two minutes, a portion of the chlorite decom- 

 poses, and is converted into chloride and chlorate, and the 

 latter is decomposed by the chlorine, producing chloric acid. 



Fortunately, however, chlorous acid is very volatile, and 

 capable of being separated by distillation, when prepared 

 by either of the methods described. 



As a high temperature, however, would decompose it, 

 and as, at the temperature of boiling water, muriatic or 

 nitric acid, which may be mixed with it, would pass over, 

 it is necessary to operate in a vacuum, or under a low pres- 

 sure, and much below 212°. The first products contain most 

 chlorous acid ; if these are collected and re-distilled, very 

 concentrated chlorous acid will be obtained. These methods, 

 however, afforded very small quantities of acid, and it would 



