1835.] Decolourizing Combinations of Chlorine. 345 



Hyposulphuric acid is not changed, while sulphurous 

 acid, either gaseous or liquid, is converted into sulphuric 

 acid. Hence, this may afford an argument to chemists who 

 consider the first acid as a compound of sulphuric and sul- 

 phurous acid. 



All the compounds of oxygen and phosphorus are imme- 

 diately changed into phosphoric acid. The same happens 

 with arsenious acid and selenious acid, which are converted 

 into arsenic and selenic acids, with the disengagement of 

 heat and chlorine. 



The metallic oxides are peroxidized, as the protoxides of 

 iron, tin, manganese, nickel, cobalt, and lead. Protoxide 

 of chromium is changed into chromic acid. Chlorous acid 

 has no action, however, upon oxide of bismuth and per- 

 oxide of manganese. Although, in some instances, chlorous 

 acid may contribute oxygen to the alkaline oxides, it com- 

 monly simply combines with them, and sometimes it de- 

 composes the peroxides, discharges oxygen and forms chlo- 

 rites. It acts thus with peroxide of barium, with peroxide 

 of lead and the two oxides of silver, metals which form in- 

 soluble compounds with chlorine ; chlorides, and not chlo- 

 rites are formed, oxygen being disengaged, mixed with 

 chlorine. The metallic chlorides are decomposed by chlo- 

 rous acid. This decomposition is always accompanied with 

 a copious disengagement of chlorine, and the metal is oxi- 

 dized. The product depends evidently on the manner in 

 which this oxide acts, both with chlorine and chlorous 

 acid. Thus, the chlorides of the alkaline metals form mix- 

 tures of chlorides and chlorites. Those of manganese, iron, 

 nickel, cobalt, lead and tin, give origin to chlorine and 

 peroxides. That of copper forms chlorine and muriate of 

 copper. The protochloride of mercury is changed without 

 disengaging gas, into a red powder, which is undoubtedly 

 a muriate mixed with the oxide (oxido-chlorure). The 

 deuto-chloride of mercury and the chloride of silver are 

 also attacked by chlorous acid, but very slowly. Chlorine, 

 with some oxygen, is disengaged. It is not easy to account 

 for the presence of the latter. 



The bromides of potassium, mercury, and silver, in con- 

 tact with chlorous acid form chlorine, bromine, chloride of 

 bromine, and a bromate and metallic chloride. 



