OM.tUE NAtUUfi OP OXIMURIATIC ACID. ^69 



liidrogen is evolved, than when plaiina forms the negative 

 wire; and apparently less even than the quantity of gas 

 discharged at the positive side. A portion of the hidrogen 

 therefore must be retained in combination with the arsenic; 

 and if arsenic acid slightly moistened be submitted to gal- 

 vanic action in a plating, cup connected with the positive 

 side, on touching it with a platina wire from the negative 

 side, dense white vapour arises, which is probably not 

 from mere volatilization, but from the action of hidrogen 

 on the arsenic. It deserves to be remarked too, that ar- Its oxide most 

 sonic is of any of the metals the one most soluble in water^°^"^^^^"^**^^* 

 in its oxidated state. 



All the facts I have stated in this paper appear to concur 

 in giving probability to the view I have ventured to propose 

 of the nature of potassium and the other metalloids — that 

 they are metals combined with hidrogen. 

 I have the honour to be, 

 Yours, &c. 



J. MURRAY. 



VI. 



On the Jffinity of Muriatic Add for different Bodies^ con* 

 eider ed with Regard to Mr. Davy's Ideas of its Nature » 

 In a Letter from a Correspondent * 



To Mr. NICHOLSON. 

 SIR, 



i. HE more I reflect upon Mr. Davy's new Theory of the Remarks on th« 

 nature of oximuriatic acid, the more I am convinced, that^JJj^t^^acid 

 it is incomplete, and inadequate to explain the mode, as for different 

 well as the nature of its con^ibination with different bases. ^^' 

 You were good enough to f^lace in your Journal for last 

 month some observations of mine relative to its inapplica. 

 bility to some phenomena, ivhich occur in the production 

 of the hyperoximnriate o'/ potash. Permit me now io call 

 your attention to some '/acts relative to the affinity of mu- 

 riatic acid for diffe^e^ni bodies, which appear to me to be 

 totally subversive of this ingenious hypothesis. 



Vql. XXVI J X Supplement. Bb Murine 



