'^ OW THE NATURE OF OXIMURIATIC ACI». 197 



theswAof'tii^o abidifying- principlps distinct fiom each other, of twoacidify- 

 botextei^inp similar cheniicul agencies," . p. 131). It jg '"^ '^"'*"P ** 

 gwieraUy admitted, that the only lei^^itimate mode of rea- of no weight 

 soninjj in the experimental sciences and In chernibtry in par- 

 ticular, i« that of induction. We arc not to judge of 

 Mr. Davy's views, I humbly conceive, by considering their 

 probability or improbability a priori, but by a reference to 

 facts. I bfcv leave to take this liberty. Oximuriatic acid Analogies be- 

 is attracted like oxigen by the positive and repelled by tween oxigen 

 the negative pole of the Voltaic battery. Combined with aticacid. 

 hidrogen oximuratic acid constitutes muriatic acid. Com- 

 bined with sulphur, phosphorus, and some of the metals^ 

 it iorms peculiar compounds, possessing the property of 

 jpieutralizini>; ammonia*. It may be objected, that these That the com- 

 compounds do not change vesretable colours from blue to pounds of the 



, ^, 1 -..T • 1 1 . • 1 T> 1-1 latter do not 



r«o. (jranted. j\ either does prussic acid. But this change redden vegeta- 



is affected by sulphuretted hidrogen, which there is every hie blues na 

 reason to believe contains no oxigen, independent of that 

 snaall portion which probably exists in sulphur. The 

 action of oximuriatic acid on vegetable colours, and in- 

 deed all the chemical relation* of this substance, are ano- 

 malous on the old hypothesis; for the sulphuric acid in 

 its most concentrated state very slightly reddens dry lit- 

 mus paper: and I find, that acetic acid does, not redden it 

 Mall, when freed from water by long digestion with fused 

 imuriate of lime. Are not all these facts sufficiently deci- 

 sive in their bearings to authorise the conclusion, that 

 oximuriatic acid is an acidifying principle, similar to oxi- 

 gen ? 



To avoid all verbal controversy, I candidly acknowledge. Properly no 

 that 1 consider the acidifying principle as a mere arbitrary p^Jn'cf \e*^ 

 term. Oxigen strictly speaking can with no more pro- 

 priety be said to be the cause of the acidity of sulphuric 

 acid, than sulphur. But if the term is to be still con- 

 tinued in use, we can only apply it to oxigen and oximuri- 

 -atie acid, as these two substances are the oidy ones known 

 to enter into ihe con)position of a great variety of bodies 

 having analogous acid properties. 



* The onlir alkali on which thej can set without double decomposition. 



Mr, 



