ON THE VITURE OF OXIMURIATIC ACID. 15] 



and the air in a few minutes regained its transparency. On 

 introducing the gasses in equal volumes into the tubea^Very 

 dense vapour was produced, with a copious depositiotv of 

 sulphur. The experiment was repeated in another form. 

 Oximuriatic acid g^as was introduced intda glass globe with 

 u stopcock, and expanded by heat so as to produce a par- 

 tial exhaustion. On admitting sulphuretted hidrogenh in 

 •mall successive portions, a very slight vapour was at first 

 produced, and it soon disappeared ; but on the subsequent -'?*^-«« * * 

 admissions it became more and more dense, Part of thfe 

 residual air, after having regained its transparency, wag 

 expelled from the globe by heat ; and on admitting a fresh 

 portion of sulphuretted hidrogen, there was a copious depo- 

 sition of sulphur on the sides of the globe. This however i 

 after some hours had in a great measure disappeared. On 

 turning the stopcock under water, there appeared to be 

 little diminution of volume, a small portion of water only 

 entering the narrow tube of the stopcock ; but when this 

 was diffused through the globe by agitation, on again 

 opening it water rushed in so as nearly to fill it. It had ' 

 therefore been filled with muriatic acid gas which the water 

 instantly condensed ; and as there was little deposition of 

 sulphur it may be concluded, that the greater part of it 

 had been converted into sulphuric, or partly perhaps into 

 sulphurous acid. The water was acid Jind gave a precii- 

 pitate with muriate of barytes. The results pf tjiese ex- 

 ]&eriments thus sufficiently accord with the supposition, that, 

 when sulphuretted hidrogen is acted on by oxiojuriatic acid, 

 the sulphur receives oxigen ^rhen thp due proportion of acid 

 is employed. 



All the facts connected with the subject of the preceding General 

 researches appear in the present state of the investigation nations, 

 to lead to the adoption of one of two general systems, each 

 of wliVtfh involves several subordinate propositions necessarily 

 4!onnected. In the one — that proposed by Mr. Davy, oximu- 

 riatiq acid is regarded as a simple substance, and muriatjp 

 acid as a compound of this substance with hidrogen. In the 

 other— oximuriatic acid is held to be a compound of muri- 

 atic acid and oxigen ; the composition of muriatic acid it- 

 self it nn'kQQwn^ but it is supposed to have a peculiar rela- 

 tion 



