344 M. Balard on the Nature of the [Nov. 



are changed into sulphates. Heat and chlorine are dis- 

 engaged, and sometimes the odour of chloride of sulphur is 

 perceptible. Analogous results are obtained with phos- 

 phuret of lime. 



In the action of chlorous acid upon compound combus- 

 tibles, its two elements combine with the two constitu- 

 ents of the latter, the oxygen separating and leaving to the 

 chlorine the most electro-negative of the two, as in the 

 action of olefiant gas and ammonia. In other cases the 

 chlorine combines with a portion of the electro-negative 

 element, but there is disengaged a quantity of gas propor- 

 tional to the elevation of temperature. When it is raised 

 to incandescence, the two elements of the compound com- 

 bustible are almost entirely consumed by the oxygen, as if 

 the affinity of the latter for bodies increased with the tem- 

 perature, in a proportion greater than that of chlorine itself. 



It might be supposed that the composition of the chlorous 

 acid is such, that the electro-negative element of the com- 

 pound combustible being saturated with chlorine, an excess 

 of this gas would remain, but this is not the case. In com- 

 paring its composition with that of phosphuretted hydrogen, 

 we find tWt^ even in admitting that all the hydrogen was 

 consumed by the oxygen, the quantity of chlorine is insuffi- 

 cient to combing with the phosphorus. However, in this 

 decomposition, a great proportion of this gas is set at liberty, 

 which renders it probable that, in this case as well as in 

 many others, the elements of the compound combustible are 

 both combined with the oxygen of the chlorous acid. 



It is easy to perceive, from this, what will happen when 

 chlorous acid is brought in contact with combinations which 

 are not saturated with oxygen. These compounds are almost 

 always peroxidized, and chlorine gas is set free. 



There are some oxides, such as carbonic oxide, which do 

 not appear to be altered by chlorous acid, but with oxalic 

 acid the most energetic action takes place. If a portion of 

 this acid is projected into chlorous acid, much heat is extri- 

 cated, and a violent effervesence originates, from the disen- 

 gagement of carbonic acid and chlorine. Protoxide of azote 

 is not changed by chlorous acid, but all the other combina- 

 tions of azote give rise to the production of nitric acid and 

 chlorine. 



