370 ON THE NATURE OP OXIMURIATIC ACIH. 



Decomposition Muriate of soda, according to Mr. Dayy, is a compound 



ofraumteof of oximuriatic acid and nietallic sodium. When sulphuric 



sociji bv sill- 



phuricacid. Jicid is added to it, it is decomposed by complex affinity. 



The water, which is contained in this acid, furnishes hi- 

 drogen to the oximuriatic acid, which thus becomes niurta- 

 tic; and oxigcn to the sodium, whioh is then saturated by 

 the sulphuric. This explanation appears at first sight per- 

 haps satisfactory. But let us examine it nearer ; water we 

 know, is composed of oxigen and hidrogen. The propor^ 

 tions of each arc Jixed and determined. Sodium we like- 

 wise know combines with oxigen, as upon the new hypo- 

 thesis does oximuriatic acid with hidrogen. But the pro- 

 iportions in which these unite are also Jixed and limited. 

 Now is it not prima facie .f at least, a very extraordinary 

 circumstance, that the quantities of oxigen and hidrogen, 

 which exist in water, should exactly correspond with the 

 proportions in which sodium combines with the one and oxi- 

 muriatic acid with the other? And we must suppose this 

 the case. The component parts of water, thus separated, 

 must either enter wholly into the new compounds formed, 

 or they will make their appearance each or either in its own 

 peculiar form. In the instance before us neither of them 

 appears in this form, therefore we must look for them 

 in the new combinations. Now is it not a very uncommon 

 coincidence, that there is no surplus in any of these ingre- 

 dients? That the entire quantity of oximuriatic acid li- 

 berated from the muriate of soda agrees so exactly with the 

 hidrogen which is set free from the water, that the whole 

 quantity of both form muriatic acid; while at the same 

 time the entire quantity of sodium likewise liberated tallies 

 as exactly with the remaining oxigen? 

 Decomposition An inverse instance of the same improbability occurs, 

 sUveHbToiu- ^'^^^ muriatic acid is added to a solution of nitrate of 

 fiaticacixl. silver. Here a precipitate is formed, which, accord- 

 ing to Mr. Davy, must be oximuriatic acid and silver. 

 Hidrogen is disengaged from the muriatic acid, and oxigen 

 from the oxide of silver, which existed in the nitrate, in 

 quantity sufficient, neither superabundant, to form water. 

 Bat we need . But we are not thus left to argue upon improbabilities: 

 impwSlu^ ^^ ^*^® ** "* ^"' power to show whether siich reciprocal 



change 



