1822.] New Compounds of Chlorine and Carbon. 43 



times its volume of oxygen, is subjected to a temperature of 12°, 

 the part which remains fluid is much more oxygenated than that 

 which freezes. It is even probable that if the latter contains any 

 oxygen, that it is derived from a certain quantity of interposed 

 water. 



I thought at first that I might employ this process to concen- 

 trate the oxygenated water, especially by taking care to break 

 the ice and to press it strongly in linen : it did not succeed; the 

 ice even after compression retained too much oxygen to be 

 rejected. 



One of the properties of peroxide of hydrogen which I endea- 

 voured more particularly to estabHsh, is its density ; this I found 

 to be 1-452. It is, therefore, evident, that the peroxide is much 

 more dense than water, and it is not necessary to take its specific 

 gravity to be convinced of this ; it is sufficient to pour it into 

 water, for although it is very soluble, it flows through it like a 

 syrup. 



Of the Action of different Bodies upon the Peroxide of Hydrogen, 



There are some bodies which have no action upon peroxide 

 of hydrogen; others render it more fixed, while some decom- 

 pose it, and combine with apart of its oxygen ; but it is particu- 

 larly worthy of remark, that a considerable number decompose it 

 at common temperatures without uniting either to the water or 

 to the oxygen gas which results : sometimes even this decom- 

 position occurs with a sort of detonation, owing to the sudden 

 disengagement of the gas. In this case, the temperature is so 

 far from being reduced, as might be supposed on account of the 

 oxygen passing to the gaseous state, that it is so much raised as 

 to produce light. Sometimes also the body during its decompo- 

 sition of the peroxide, is itself decomposed; such is, for example, 

 the oxide of silver, which immediately upon coming into contact 

 with the peroxide, even largely diluted with water, disengages 

 all the oxygen, and is itself reduced. 



Of the Action of Imponderable Bodies. 



Heat quickly decomposes the peroxide of hydrogen ; but the 

 decomposition takes place more slowly as it proceeds. The 

 water, in proportion as it is liberated, undoubtedly combines 

 with the undecomposed portion, and renders it more fixed. 

 This may be learned by the following experiments : 



Put some peroxide of hydrogen into a small glass tube, heat 

 it gradually from 55° to 212°, by placing the tube in water, it 

 will be seen that the decomposition will be quite sensible at 68°; 

 it occurs with greater ebullition, if the peroxide is subjected 

 immediately to 212° ; the experiment would be dangerous in a 

 vessel with a narrow neck, with eight grains of th(} peroxide. 

 Nevertheless, when thrown upon a red hot metal plate, it does 

 not detonate. 



