igS ON THE NATURE OF OXIMURIATIC ACID. 



ter, the investigation of which presents an interesting sub- 

 ject tov lllqul^3^ 

 but iBomethfn^ What, it may be naturally asked, doefiMr.oMiifMy/oii* 

 contain ui derstand by n^uriatic acid? as he baa given po definition 

 •» of the word, 1 cannot say positively in what sense he use^ 



it. This is certain, it does not signify muriatic "as, but, 

 I should conceive, that part of muriatic gas, which com- 

 bines with metallic x)xides, and with the phosphoric and 

 sulphuric acids. But the question now is, what is this 

 ■which has ne- pecular substance ? Has Mr. Murray examined it in itfc 

 Twbeen ol>- insulated state ? has he described its properties ? or has anv 

 rite, ,.. .. tJnie^mvst ever obtamed it? The answer 1 may venture to 

 assert is in the negative. To speak plainly my sentiments, 

 muriatic acid gas, on Mr. Murray's hypothesis, appears to 

 tee/ttt' be a compound of water and an unknown basis, 

 and the muriates compounds of this unknown basis and 

 3ri«l i=? thcTf'- metallic oxides. And thiSf if I am not greatly mistaken 

 fore hypotbtti- \^ j^y opinion, is speculation in tlie strictest sense of the 

 word. '.■:■/■.;, 



It is evident, that, whilst the basis is • unknoiwi*; it :'t« 

 merely an imaginary substance. If this hypothesis should 

 be preferred to Mr. Davy's theory, there should be for 

 the sake of consistency a revolution of chemical doctrine. 

 ai,f!onapar Plilogiston should triumph, and recover all it's forni^r 

 ton'^^^^*** diKfiities. The arguments advanced in support of the 

 simple nature of muriatic acid, might be used m defence 

 of the compound nature of the metals. It has been already 

 observed, that Mr. Cavendishes hypothesis of this kind is 

 Mr CaTen- ft^Hy adequate to explain all chemical phenomena. This 

 thesis ''^^' ^^^^^^^^^^ philosopher considered the metals and inflamma- 

 ble substances as probably compounded of unknown bases 

 i-. and phlogiston (hidrogen), and the metallic oxides and 



^./ acids as probably compounds of unknown bases and v^ater*. 



Examination I ahull no lotiger delay examining the objeclions made 

 ray's objecti- ^y ^^^' Murray to Mr. Davy's theory, that oximuriatic gas 

 ons to Mr. Da- is a simple body, having relations similar to those of oxigen 

 Tjst eory. ^^ ^j^^ u»etals and inflammable substances. Mr. Murray 

 Improbability /4^eraarks, " tiiat there is some impri>babiiity in Ihei^hypo* 



