3Q4 ON THE NATORE OF OXIMURIATIC ACIP. 



by the more unexceptionable mode of the action of electri- 

 city, that recent muriatic acid gas affords tt of its bulk of hir 

 drogen, while after the full action of muriate of lime it 

 affords only ^V ^^ ^^*> bulk. The inference in the reasoning 

 on this subject, from the affinity of potassium to oxigen, 

 arises from a misconception of the theory of Berthollet, on 

 which the original aigument is founded, so obvious that it 

 does not require to be pointed out. 

 Theauihor^s ^I'* I^'^vy proceeds to some observations on my experif- 

 ©xperiments ments, en which I shall offer few remarks, as I shall proba- 

 *ccura «. ^^j^^ have an opportunity of engaging in the discussion of 



this part of the subject, to greater advantage, when better 

 acquainted with the experiments brought forward in oppo- 

 sition to those I have stated. I may be allowed to say, that 

 of the accuracy of the results I obtained, particularly of 

 those which appear to be questioned, the fortr>ation of car- 

 bonic acid, when carbonic oxide, hidrogen, and oximuriatic 

 acid gasses are submitted to mutual action, 1 am fully con- 

 vinced. 1 had preserved the notes of these experiments, 

 some of them written by Mr, Ellis, others by myself, at the 

 time they were made; and in all of them carbonic acid was 

 formed, though there often remained a s^ubible quantity of 

 carbonic oxide, of which I have taken notice in my paper. 

 How Mr. Davy infers, that the whole carbonic oxide should 

 be converted into carbonic acid, in order to adroit the in- 

 ference, that oxigen is communicated from the oximuriatic 

 «cid, I do not comprehend. It is sufficient, if a portion of 

 carbonic acid is produced. No notice perhaps is due to the 

 remark, that in one of my experiments a small residue of 

 common air vras observed, whence it is inferred, that the 

 conversion of carbonic oxide into carbonic acid might be 

 owing to the presence of atmospheric air. Carbonic oxide 

 gas requires for its conversion into carbonic acid by detona*- 

 tion with atmospheric air a quautity equal at least to 2^ of 

 its bulk ; and not a twentieth of this quantity could have 

 been introduced even in the most inaccurate mode,in which 

 M''- J» Davy may suppose the exptriment to have been 

 performed. The small portion obse-^-^d had originated 

 from the minute quantity disengaged by the force of the 

 detonation from between the sides of the tube and the quick- 

 silver. 



