«N THE NATURE OF OXIMUMATIC ACID* , ]47 



^ith the blue flame of carbonic oxide, and was converted 

 into carbonic acid. In this experimefnt then the carbonic 

 oxide had evidently sustained no change. 



I now put into the tube one measure of dry carbonic A similarml*^ 

 oxide gas, one ineasure of dry hidrogen gas, and three mea- ^^Jj^J^^Jj ^f hi- 

 sures of oxlrnuriatic acid gas. On transmitting the electric drogen, ex- 

 spark there was an instant explosion with the production o^Kg^ ^sscsdfs. 

 a whitish vapour, and diminution of volume. On remov- composed, 

 ing the tube into water the vapour was condensed, a slight 

 tinge of oxi muriatic acid remained, but this was boob re- 

 moved with farther diminution of volume by ths action of 

 the water. The residual air occupied scarcely one measure, 

 and by the test of lime water was found to be carbottic 

 acid with a small portion of atmospheric air. A similar 

 result without any remaining excess of oximuriatic acid was 

 obtained on using rather a larger proportion of hydrogen. 



Here the ullimute results are the same as in the ex- xhis confirms 

 periments on the slow mutual action of these gasses,tind ihe precedinj 

 the same explanation is to be given. There is the same *^^^ *"* ''^ 

 difficulty too iu accounting for them by Mn Davy's 

 hypothesis; for although the hidrogen might convert a 

 portion of the oximuriatic acid into muriatic acid, there 

 is no source whence the oxigen, which has converted the 

 carbonic oxide into carbonic acid, can have been obtained ; 

 and the results according to that hypothesis ought to be 

 merely the di^-appearance of the hidrogen, and the forma- 

 tion of a portion of muriatic acid, while the carbonic oxide 

 with about half of the oximuriatic acid remained unchanged. 



There is only one mode, in which the force of this con- q,. . 

 elusion drawn from the results of the experiments in which the conclu- 

 hidrogen is employed, whether in the slow action, or in sions drawn, 

 the detonation by electricity, ran be attempted to be ob- 

 viated. It is that of assuming, that the carbonic oxide is 

 not converted into carbonic atid previous to the admission 

 of water, that it forms with the hidrogen and oximuriatic acid 

 a ternary compound whichdecomposesthewater, and attracts 

 its oxigen and hidrogen, so that the carbonic oxide becomes 

 carbonic acid, and tfve oximuriaiic, muriatic acid. But this 

 is a supposition, which, were it advanced, would be alto- 

 gether gratuitous, and had recourse to merely to avoid a -ratuitous 



t 2 digJculty; 



